This is a must!!!
andrei polessi | 11/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally Max arrives to a more mature work, where he comes across all his influences (bossa nova, samba, soul, jazz and techno), mixing up all together to release this great album!Music is in the family (son of Wilson Simonal, one of the main percursors of bossa nova in the 60's/70's, and brother of Simoninha, also musician/singer under the same label, Trama), Max gets one step ahead with this latest work, which might dictate the new trends to come for brazilian music. It's an important work that meets other new/young artists projections (like Bebel Gilberto, Suba, Bossa Cuca Nova and Ed Motta ),for what's gonna be the future of brazilian music: the re-descovering of our roots towards a new aesthetic, globalized world.Orchestra Klaxon brings special guests such as Proveta (horn arrangements, one of the greatest trombone player in Brazil), Paula Lima (track # 4), among others. The instrumental track #8 it's a blow, strong acid-jazz theme!!! (Remembers the old-good-times of the Brand New Heavies but with a pinch of latin swing and some samba beats). Perfect to listen when you are watching the sunset at Ipanema beach or even if you just wanna feel like you're there. Just close your eyes, pump up the volume and chill."
Good Music
Pedro Nunes | Rio de Janeiro, Brasil | 07/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even better than Samba Raro! Max de Castro made what seemed to be impossible! His melting pot of sounds, mixing jazz, samba, hip hop, soul music is still full of surprises. This album shows Max at his very best. You can't really say anything about the new Brazilian music without mentioning Max de Castro. And this album shows the routes his music is following (and perhaps the routes of Brazilian music of the new century). The music is great and everyone should have a taste of it!"
Beautiful Music
HaikuLifeInDC | 03/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're looking for beautiful Brazilian bossa nova blended with US jazzy soul, then Max De Castro's Orchestra Klaxon is the right CD for you (really good examples of this blend from the LP are, "A Historia Da Morena Nua Que Abalou As Estruturas Do Esplendor Do Carnaval," O Nego Do Cabelo Bom, Linha Do Tempo, and Calaram A Voz Do Nosso Amor). You do not have to speak Portuguese to understand the depth and passion Castro exudes from his songs. One in particular, O Nego Do Cabelo Bom, Castro speaks socially as he examines the term "good hair;" a state of mind for some people of African decent who believe that by having good hair means it must closely resemble the hair of Europeans or people of European decent. Castro exposes the ridiculousness of this claim in a sweet jazzy bossa nova melodic tempo--whenever I listen to this song, I cannot help but to pop my fingers and pat my feet--his music is so infectious.
For avid Brazilian music listeners in US, Castro is not a novice; he's been around, I believe, since the 90's. And as the son of Wilson Simonal, one of the first Brazilian singers to successfully mix bossa nova and soul music in the 60's and 70's, he's had tremendous influences from his father and other veteran musicians of the like, and you can hear those influences on the LP. I first came to love Orchestra Klaxon by happenstance as I was listening to online radio. Tired of repetitive US pop and R&B music, I began listening to what online radio stations called "world music" and found a new love for traditional and contemporary bossa nova and samba rhythms. I would definitely recommend Orchestra Klaxon to other Brazilian music novices. And, should you llike Orchestra Klaxon, I would also recommend other Brazilian artists with a similar sounding LPs, such as Jair Oliveira's Dis' ritmia and Patricia Marx's Patricia Marx.
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Track Listings (12) - Disc #1