Brazilian acoustic guitarist Ulisses Rocha teams up with reedman Teco Cardoso, a member of the Orquestra Popular de Camara, for a series of 10 duets on Caminhos Cruzados (Crossed Paths).
Whereas Rocha plays only acoustic guitar on the CD, Cardoso uses the entire family of saxophones and every imaginable flute, from baritone to piccolo and even Brazilian Indian. Besides six original compositions by Rocha, Caminhos Cruzados also features music by Gismonti, Jobim and Lins. At times the music is romantic and pensive, like the title track or Jobim and Buarque’s “Retrato em Branco e Preto (Portrait in Black and White).” On other tracks, the duo exhibits uncommon vitality and creativity, as on Gismonti’s “Infancia (Infancy).”
This CD is more than just two accomplished musicians crossing paths. Rocha and Cardoso are updating the strong Brazilian bossa nova tradition of guitar, sax and flute with the refreshing and captivating performances on Caminhos Cruzados.
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