DUDUKA DA FONSECA - Samba Jazz Fantasia (2008) APE (image+.cue), lossless

"Fantasia" aptly describes this exuberant debut by drummer/percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca. Many tracks feature him with his partners in Trio da Paz (guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta), but there's also a rotating cast of jazz heavyweights: guitarist John Scofield, trumpeters Tom Harrell and Claudio Roditi, saxophonists Joe Lovano, David Sanchez, and Billy Drewes, pianists Kenny Werner and Marc Copland, and more. The results are upbeat, melodic, and richly textured, with ample and inspired improvisations -- the above names virtually guarantee it. Da Fonseca includes three of his own compositions: the odd-metered "Partido Out," the Tyner-esque "Dona Maria" (a tour de force for Kenny Werner and Billy Drewes), and the bright finale, "Manhattan Style." There are also original entries by Scofield, Harrell, Lubambo, and Helio Alves, along with gems by Dori Caymmi, Jobim, and others. The blend of electric and acoustic guitars (courtesy of Scofield and Lubambo) on "Pro Flavio" is one of the album's many winning moments; Da Fonseca sets up the track with a two-minute "Berimbau Fantasia." Albums like these raise the creative bar for Brazilian jazz, bringing the form squarely into the new millennium. by David R. Adler
Tracklist:
1    Pardito Out 5:35
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Drums, Cuica – Duduka Da Fonseca
Percussion – Valtinho Anastacio
Piano – Helio Alves
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Billy Drewes
Trombone – Jay Ashby
Vocals – Alana Da Fonseca, Lisa Ono, Maucha Adnet
Written-By, Arranged By – Chico Adnet, Duduka Da Fonseca
2    Terrestris 6:26
Bass – Dennis Irwin
Drums – Duduka Da Fonseca
Percussion – Valtinho Anastacio
Piano – Dom Salvador
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Lovano
Written-By, Arranged By, Flugelhorn – Tom Harrell
3    Sco's Bossa 6:04
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo
Bass – Nilson Matta
Drums, Bells, Arranged By – Duduka Da Fonseca
Piano – Marc Copland
Tenor Saxophone – Richard Perry (2)
Vocals – Alana Da Fonseca, Lisa Ono, Maucha Adnet
Written-By, Arranged By, Guitar – John Scofield
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo
4    Bala Com Bala 5:37
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo
Arranged By [Horn], Piano – Helio Alves
Bass – Nilson Matta
Drums, Arranged By – Duduka Da Fonseca
Tenor Saxophone – David Sanchez
Written-By – João Bosco
5    Pedra Bonita 5:49
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Drums, Arranged By – Duduka Da Fonseca
Piano, Arranged By – Helio Alves
Written-By – Mario Adnet
6    Dona Maria 6:10
Bass – Nilson Matta
Piano – Kenny Werner
Soprano Saxophone – Billy Drewes
Vocals – Isabel Adnet Da Fonseca
Written-By, Arranged By, Drums – Duduka Da Fonseca
7    Saveiros 5:12
Acoustic Guitar, Arranged By – Romero Lubambo
Bass – Nilson Matta
Drums, Arranged By – Duduka Da Fonseca
Piano – Kenny Werner
Soprano Saxophone – Billy Drewes
Vocals – Maucha Adnet
Written-By – Dori Caymmi, Nelson Motta
8    Song For Claudio 5:44
Bass – Nilson Matta
Drums – Duduka Da Fonseca
Flugelhorn – Claudio Roditi
Tenor Saxophone – David Sanchez
Written-By, Arranged By, Piano – Helio Alves
9     Berimbau Fantasia 2:17
Written-By, Berimbau – Duduka Da Fonseca
10     Pro Flavio 8:19
Acoustic Guitar, Arranged By – Romero Lubambo
Bass – Nilson Matta
Drums, Berimbau, Caxixi, Vibraslap, Arranged By – Duduka Da Fonseca
Guitar – John Scofield
Percussion – Valtinho Anastacio
Written-By – Romero Lubambo
11     Fotografia 4:44
Bass – Nilson Matta
Drums – Duduka Da Fonseca
Flugelhorn – Tom Harrell
Lyrics By – Vinicius De Moraes
Piano, Arranged By – Alfredo Cardim
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Lovano
Vocals – Maucha Adnet
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
12     Manhattan Style 6:41
Bass – Nilson Matta
Piano – Helio Alves
Tenor Saxophone – David Sanchez
Trumpet – Claudio Roditi
Written-By, Arranged By, Drums – Duduka Da Fonseca