June 1999

Paulinho Garcia
Solo/Sozinho
Southport

By Marcela Breton

Paulinho Garcia's sensuous voice is heard to wonderful advantage on nineteen songs that cover the spectrum from standard sambas such as the opener, "Samba da Pergunta," to Peruvian Chabuca Granda's immortal "La Flor de la Canela," to the Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away." Garcia sings in Portuguese, Spanish, and English and his spare guitar work draws attention to the lyric beauty of these songs. Milton Nascimento's "Bridges" is a case in point. Garcia's rhythmic vocalese is heard on the percussive "Berimbau." Every song is rewarding.