March 1998

Joe Carter
The Samba Rio Trio
Empathy Records

By Marcela Breton

The trio of guitarist Joe Carter, bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Portinho essay ten sambas, including "How Insensitive," "Once I Loved," trumpeter Blue Mitchell's "Fungi Mama," and two Carter compositions, "Joyful Samba" and "Dream of Marina." Carter's lines are precise and understated. Most of the tunes are low key, the effect generally meditative, although the trio swings nicely on the opener, "How Insensitive." Soothing and pleasant if not particularly adventurous.