Post Description

Strongly informed by Rodrigues' allegiance to the Condomble religion, a Yoruban/African-derived faith with similarities to Haiti's Santeria cult, Nos finds the Brazilian singer once again weaving her powerfully spiritual voice through a supple backdrop of Bahian rhythms and tropicalismo flourishes. The disc appropriately begins with a song to Exu -- the Condomble goddess who enables communion with the high deities -- with Rodrigues' operatic voice ideally set off by a percussion-only backdrop. What follows is a varied and stunning dance with the musical muses, ranging from the chamber-like intimacy of "Uma Historia de Ifa" to the samba and bossa nova pop sounds of "Afrekete." This song and the more somber "Salvador Nao Inerte" are reminiscent of fellow Bahian native Caetano Veloso's recent work; Veloso, in fact, was instrumental in discovering Rodrigues and contributes here on the duet "Jeito Faceiro." And besides a coterie of musical alumni from many stellar Brazilian sessions, including ones by Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Milton Nascimento, producer Celso Fonseca (who also manned Rodrigues' Hannibal debut, Sol Negro) provides tastefully updated samba backdrops full of stellar string and reed arrangements. One of the most impressive international releases from the last few years. ~ Stephen Cook 2nd Rel;Co-Produced & Features Caetano Veloso Audio Mixers: Walter Costa; Mário Possollo; Celso Fonseca. Photographers: Arlete Soares; Jeferson Melo. Arranger: Ramiro Musotto. Personnel includes: Virginia Rodrigues, Caetano Veloso, Ile Aiye (vocals); Celso Fonseca (guitar, calimba, tamboura, bells, lyre, bottles, background vocals); Mauro Senise (flute, bass clarinet); Ze Canuto (flute, alto saxophone); Dirceu Leitte (clarinet); Daniel Garcia (tenor saxophone); Henrique Band (baritone saxophone); Vikor Santos (trombone); Philip Doyle (horn); Ramiro Musotto (berimbau, calimba, percussion); Robertinho Silva (percussion); Adriana Maciel, Thiago Braga, Milton Guedes, Gabriela Azevedo, Gui Rodriquez, Bruno Levinson, Patricia Maranhao, Eduardo Prado, Nair Candia, Elisa Quieroz, Bettina Graziani, Evaline Hecker (background vocals). Personnel: Celso Fonseca (guitar, lyre, tamboura, bells); Ramiro Musotto (berimbau, percussion); Marluce Oliveira, Gustavo Menezes, Mauro Rufino Martins, Ana Maria de Oliveria, Felipe Prazeres (violin); Nayrah Pessanha, Déborah Cheyne (viola); David Chew (cello); Mauro Senise (flute, bass clarinet); Zé Canuto (flute, alto saxophone); Dirceu Leitte (clarinet); Daniel Garcia (tenor saxophone); Henrique Band (baritone saxophone); Vittor Santos (trombone); Philip Doyal (horns); Robertinho Silva (percussion). Spin (4/00, p.201) - "...[an] ornate mix of new-world strings and old-school percussion...featuring 'artistic direction' from original art-folkie Caetano Veloso..."
Q (4/00, p.99) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Breathtaking from start to finish....her classically trained, serene contralto and 'chamber samba' style [achieves] astonishing results..."
Down Beat (8/00, pp.70-1) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "...A musician, and not a diva, Rodrigues knows how to make a whisper as powerful as an aria."

1 Canto Para Exu   
2 Uma Historia de Ifa   
3 Salvador Nao Inerte   
4 Afrekete   
5 Jeito Faciero   
6 Ile E Impar/Depois Que O Ile Passar   
7 Ile E Impar/Depois Que O Ile Passar   
8 Oju Oba   
9 Raca Negra   
10 Deusa Do Ebano/Deus Do Fogo E da Justica   
11 Deusa Do Ebano/Deus Do Fogo E da Justica   
12 Male Debale   
13 Mimar Voce   
14 Reino de Daom