Darol Anger & Mike Marshall
Woodshop
Adventure Music

Mike Marshall & Darol Anger with Vasen
Adventure Music

Jovino Santos Neto
Alma do Nordeste
Adventure Music
By George W. Harris

Some of the freshest music out there these days is coming from this tiny label that is what Blue Note used to be in the 50s: a group of guys devoted to a specific genre of music performed by a caldron of masters. The three latest releases from Adventure Music continues its winning streak of original South American jazz. There isn’t a Jobim cliché in the bunch.

“Woodshop” features violinist Anger and mandolinist Marshall in a small group setting the emphasizes lilting melodies that mix Appalachian Mountains with Brazilian rain forests. Blues, jazz, folk and bluegrass all intermingle with vigor and delight. The interplay between these two gents, whether it’s on the tender and mystically romantic “Heart’s Wait” or the back porch Blue Ridge Mountained “Unbearable Gift”, these guys can trade a lick or two. But it’s never just about chops; the beauty of “Bach, Up” is sublime and ethereal. South of the Border meets the South perfectly.

“Mike Marshal & Darol Anger with Vasen” features a working string quintet that successfully pushes the traditional/folk envelop, creating a beautiful panoramic sound, not unlike watching the sun rise in the Smokey Mountains. Craftily arranged, well structured, but still with space and time for episodes of improvisation, these tunes have an expanse and drama that is invigorating and inspiring. 5 and 17 string guitars mix with violins, mandolins and various harps to create music that can jig with the Clancey Brothers or swing with Bill Monroe. Genre defying, but highly gratifying music that needs to be heard in this age of the lowest common musical denominator.

Meanwhile, back at the Brazilian ranch, pianist Jovino Santos Neto grabs together a collection of local musicians to perform unbelievably compelling music from Northeastern Brazil. Perfectly mixing melody and improvisation, Neto combines traditional instruments like accordion, woodwinds and 10 stringed guitar for amazingly complex, articulate, yet swinging music. “Festa na Macuca” is almost Cajun in it’s groove of accordion and bluesy groove; the mixture of fifes and rumbling percussion on “Passareio” is as fresh as a glass of watermelon juice. From there, a simple piano and soprano sax duet on “Fulo Sertanejo”evokes green pastoral rolling hills. Music that can make you dance or lay in the grass is beautifully displayed here.