Suba passed away last November and Sao Paulo Confessions (657036 1019, 61:20) is a tragically beautiful epitaph. This guy had big ears-rivers of Hermeto Pascoal, George Duke, Deodato, Olodum and DJ Premier run through his aural valley. “Antropofagos (Cannibals)” is a dense samba-house rhythm groove that morphs into an Irish fiddle breakdown that flips into a high noon percussion fiddle orgy at the Ennio Morricone Saloon. One Black Orpheus soundbite, one recurring slurred trumpet note, one fast-drummed bossa beat, one sultry vocalist (Cibelle), one lightheaded, wandering piano (Suba) adds up to one totally fresh version of “Felicidade.” “Pecados Da Madrugada (Sins Before Dawn)” channels ’70s rockers reggae spirit-cosmic through a dubby organ and a virtual Afro-bloco of surdo, repenique, tamborim, pandeiro samples. Sao Paulo Confessions’ remaining nine tracks are just as brilliant. Suba woulda been the next Deodato.
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