Flora Purim Sings Milton Nascimento

The title of the disc implies that the acclaimed Brazilian vocal legend is simply paying tribute to her old friend Milton (who happens to be one of that country's most influential songwriting masters), but she prefers to see it as "a declaration of unconditional love." With the beautiful musical backing of an all-star cast featuring George Duke, saxman and flutist Widor Santiago, and her drummer/percussionist husband Airto Moreira, Flora Purim creates a lush valentine that can be appreciated by more than Brazilian music fans. "Maria Tres Filos" has an hypnotic tribal quality, with her ethereal vocals soaring over an increasingly bold percussion forest and throbbing bassline. "Encontos E Despedidas" opens with a soulful sax run that would be at home in smooth jazz, then evolves into a gentle, intimate piece focused on "Purim"'s rich vocals and "Luiz Avellar"'s lush piano. There is an overall sense of romantic adventure, best typified by tracks like "Canto Latino," which eases along on a drifting bluesy groove -- complete with soaring male vocalese -- and rolls faster with fiery percussion as it goes by. Yet her vocals are swaying and sensuous. Even though the production leans to the more traditional acoustic side, "Gira Girou" stands out in that its centered around a crunchy, almost hip-hop ambient vibe, with "Purim" backing up Moreira's guttural wailing. Just as when Keely Smith sang songs popularized by her friend Frank Sinatra, Purim has more than just a legacy to live up to. And she delivers magnificently. ~ Jonathan Widran|