Ithamara Koorax & Juarez Moreira
Bim Bom: The Complete Joao Gilberto Songbook
Motema Records
www.motema.com

Jesse Cook
The Rumba Foundation
E1 Music
www.jessecook.com
By George W. Harris

Here are a pair of discs that reflect the sounds and feel of South
America, with the passion, nuance and rhythms that have contributed so
much to modern jazz.

Vocalist Ithamara Koorax teams up with guitarist Juarez Moreira to give
reflective and pastoral treatments on what is billed as the “complete
Joao Gilberto songbook.” What is most striking about this disc, first
of all, is that so few of the songs that Gilberto is associated with
are from his own pen. Only “Bim Bom” is familiar to listeners from the
States. Also, many of the songs don’t even have lyrics: songs like
“Valsa” have Koorax simple giving wordless vocals that either create an
ethereal atmosphere, or start grating on your nerves, depending on your
mood. How many times can one tolerate hearing the word “Undiu” in a
three minute song?

On the plus side, Koorax’s voice is stunningly beautiful, and when she
goes through tunes like the sublime “Forgotten Places” and “Minha
Saudada,” Brazilian jazz just doesn’t get any better. Moreira’s guitar
work is lithe and tasty, and his solo on “An Embrace To Bonfa” is
gentility at its zenith.

Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook recorded this gem in the birthplace of
rumba, Bogota, Colombia, with a traditional group called Los Gaiteros
de San Jacinto. The music jumps right out with passion, fortitude and
verve. The music style is known as Vallenato, and the band make their
own instruments: they play them like they made them, as well! A mix of
Gypsy Kings style world/jazz, but with the added flutes, a touch of
Peruvian lilt is mixed into the sound to give an irresistible flavor.
The combination of guitar, violin, accordion, cellos, guitars and bass
will get you dancing on a table in no time. Oye!