A TOWERING BEAUTIFUL ACHIEVEMENT BY A TRUE GENIUS
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 02/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five HUGE Stars!!
This is a mesmerizing journey into Milton's World: a world like no other, with music so idiomatic that no one else could do it or attempt to do it. Milton is a "World Music Treasure" unto himself (sorry, Brasil, he belongs to all of us) and, four decades into his career, he continues to produce fresh, beautiful music that excites, fascinates, and invigorates the mind. The music on this CD is almost visually aural in it's intensity: one can almost see it floating, undulating, and spinning in front of us, defying capture.
Milton performs alone and with three awesome female vocal guests. The Grammy winning daughter of Elis Regina, the stunning Maria Rita; the brilliant "Santa Rosa songbird" Simone Guimaraes; and the wonderous Marina Machado. Trust me, they more than hold their own with Milton, which is probably why he invited them to sing with him. Indeed, the haunting duet with Maria Rita on "Tristesse" won a Latin Grammy in 2003. The title song, "Pieta" is fantastic with Milton spinning unusual key changes amid the insistent martial beat. Marina Machado's anguished middle-eastern flavored cries on "Pieta" are so poignant it almost transports us back in time. The pulsating starkness of "Boa Noite" is off set by Simone's beautiful voice, trading verses with Milton before joining him in unison and scatting on the arc of her voice to the end. The very beautiful "Vozes Do Vento" (Voices of the Wind) concludes with all three female guests singing with much gusto with Milton, amid double stops above the percussion and chorus. And Milton on ANY ballad on this CD or any other is worth the price of admission alone. Don't forget to check out Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny with Milton on "Canteloupe Island", it's very cool.
There is so much fresh, beautiful, and varied music on this CD, it will take a while to digest the whole thing. If you have never heard Milton Nascimento, this would be a great place to start. It's all in Portuguese but the words are almost besides the point. I understand little Portuguese but it's not necessary here. This is a one way ticket into Milton's world and it's awesome. Get this one fast. It's hot. Five Big Stars!!"
A Towering Beautiful Achievement by A True Genius
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 09/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a mesmerizing journey into Milton's World: a world like no other, with music so idiomatic that no one else could do it or attempt to do it. Milton is a "World Music Treasure" unto himself (sorry, Brasil, he belongs to all of us) and, four decades into his career, he continues to produce fresh, beautiful music that excites, fascinates, and invigorates the mind. The music on this CD is almost visually aural in it's intensity: one can almost see it floating, undulating, and spinning in front of us, defying capture.
Milton performs alone and with three awesome female vocal guests. The Grammy winning daughter of Elis Regina, the stunning Maria Rita; the brilliant "Santa Rosa songbird" Simone Guimaraes; and the wonderous Marina Machado. Trust me, they more than hold their own with Milton, which is probably why he invited them to sing with him. Indeed the haunting duet with Maria Rita on "Tristesse" won a Latin Grammy in 2003. The title song, "Pieta" is fantastic with Milton spinning unusual key changes amid the insistent martial beat. Marina Machado's anguished middle-eastern flavored cries on "Pieta" are so poignant it almost transports us back in time. The pulsating starkness of "Boa Noite" is off set by Simone's beautiful voice, trading verses with Milton before joining him in unison and scatting on the arc of her voice to the end. The very beautiful "Vozes Do Vento" (Voices of the Wind) concludes with all three female guests singing with much gusto with Milton, amid double stops above the percussion and chorus. And Milton on ANY ballad on this CD is worth the price of admission alone. Don't forget to check out Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny with Milton on "Canteloupe Island", it's very cool.
There is so much fresh, beautiful, and varied music on this CD, it will take a while to digest the whole thing. If you have never heard Milton Nascimento, this would be a great place to start. It's all in Portuguese but the words are almost besides the point. This is a one way ticket into Milton's world and it's awesome. Get this one fast. It's hot. Five Big Stars!!"
Brasilian at its best
Quo Primum | USA | 12/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Milton Nascimento is so talented a singer, and fortunately, recognized as such world wide, that it is not necessary for me to repeat praises of his skill. This is a beautiful cd with fresh music that is unmistakeably brasilian in style (that style that Paul Simon manages to capture in Rhythem of the Saints, on which Milton enjoys a singing part)."