LARRY CORYELL / BADI ASSAD / JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Three Guitars (2005) 24bits-96hz / FLAC

It's rare for three guitarists of this caliber to be assembled for a recording date. John Abercrombie claimed that he hadn't touched his acoustic guitar for three years prior to receiving an invitation to make this recording, though he was obviously ready when the tape rolled. Larry Coryell has made a number of acoustic recordings prior to this disc. Badi Assad's three previous CDs for Chesky have all merited high praise.
Assad contributed five compositions to the session, though the stunning opener, "Seu Jorge e Dona Ica," is hard to beat. She initially accompanies her fellow guitarists on a percussive instrument called a kalimba, which sounds like it originates from Africa. This six-minute work has several distinctive sections, including a bit of her mouth percussion. Her "After the Rain" showcases the intricate interplay between the three guitarists. The moody, march-like "Metamorphosis" also proves compelling, while her switch to copper flute with an interspersing vocal transforms the piece into borderline avant-garde.
Assad's body percussion introduces Abercrombie's challenging "Descending Grace," a piece full of surprising twists. His "Ralph's Piano Waltz" is every bit as difficult, but the players seem to tackle it effortlessly.
Coryell also brought several of his pieces to the sessions. "New Lute Prelude" was inspired by the late Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, it serves as a brief introduction to the much more laid-back "New Lute Interlude." He also composed two duets to play with Assad. The wild "No Flight Tonight" features her vocals and incredible mouth and body percussion as the sole accompaniment for Coryell. They also walk a musical tightrope together in his "Exercise in Fourths" without any slips. Highly recommended. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Seu Jorge E Dona Ica 6:00
Badi Assad / Sergio Assad
2     New Lute (Prelude) 1:34
Larry Coryell
3     New Lute (Interlude) 3:14
Larry Coryell
4     Soundtrack 4:17
John Abercrombie
5     After the Rain 4:56
Badi Assad
6     Descending Grace 5:28
John Abercrombie
7     Metamorphosis 4:03
Badi Assad
8     No Flight Tonight 4:24
Larry Coryell
9     Ralph's Piano Waltz 5:09
John Abercrombie
10     Suspended Circles 5:25
Badi Assad
11     Exercise in Fourths 2:33
Larry Coryell
12     Autumn Breeze 3:30
Badi Assad
13     Timeless 7:04
John Abercrombie
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar [Fisher Nylon String Classical], Flute [Copper], Percussion [Mouth And Body], Kalimba, Vocals – Badi Assad
Acoustic Guitar [Grimes] – Larry Coryell
Acoustic Guitar [Gruen] – John Abercrombie

BADI ASSAD - Solo (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This young, dazzlingly virtuosic Brazilian guitarist performs entirely solo on this album, even though sometimes she seems to be doing the work of three or more musicians simultaneously. Borrowing sonic ideas from the innovative Brazilian group Uakti, she simulates various percussion instruments and sings and scats in clear, vibrant Portuguese while playing rapid-fire, technically impeccable acoustic guitar. On several tracks she also chooses only to play guitar, in a rhythmically complex or a delicate manner. The material she plays ranges all over her nation's spectrum, including the music of her brother Sergio (half of the famous Assad classical guitar duo), Edu Lobo, Chico Buarque de Hollanda, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Egberto Gismonti, as well as non-Brazilian Ralph Towner. The combination of classical technique, a Brazilian jazz sensibility, and the unique touches of percussion and voice is exquisitely captured by Chesky's audiophile equipment. by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1    Num Pagode Em Planaltina 4:39
Written-By – Pereira
2    Prelúdio E Toccatina 2:59
Written-By – Assad
3    A Bela E A Fera 4:05
Written-By – Buarque, Edú Lobo
4    Valseana 2:32
Written-By – Assad
5    Tamoimoê 4:40
Written-By – Ferreira
6    When The Fire Burns Low 3:45
Written-By – Towner
7    Fuoco (Libra Sonatine) 3:35
Written-By – Dyens
8    Joana Francesa 4:18
Written-By – Buarque
9    Vrap 4:19
Written-By – Ferreira
10    Palhaço 2:59
Written-By – Gismonti
11    Rua Harmonia 5:14
Written-By – Michelino, Rocha
12    Estudo #1/Assum Preto 5:22
Written-By – Villa-Lobos, Gonzaga
13    Homenagem A Radamés Gnattalli 4:15
Written-By – Melo
14    Drume Negrita 3:47
Written-By – Grenet
Credits :
Guitar, Vocals, Arranged By – Badi Assad

BADI ASSAD - Rhythms (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While Badi Assad isn't a jazz singer per se, the singer/acoustic guitarist clearly thrives on improvisation and spontaneity. This is no doubt one of the main reasons she ended up on the jazz-oriented Chesky Records. When Rhythms was recorded at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in New York, Chesky treated the project much as it would treat a jazz recording -- the tape was rolling, and Assad was encouraged to simply let loose and blow. No overdubbing took place, and this very honest and straightforward approach makes for a riveting listen on songs by Chico César, Marco Pereira and other Brazilian composers. Although the vast majority of her influences are Brazilian, Assad's Lebanese heritage is a definite advantage on the magnificent and varied Rhythms. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Pulo Do Gato 5:04
Written-By – Paulo Bellinati
2    À Gandáia Das Ondas / Beppo 6:30
Written-By – Lenine, Ralph Towner
3    À Primeira Vista 3:10
Written-By – Chico Cesar
4    O Choro De Juliana 3:02
Written-By – Marco Pereira
5    Rhythms 2:19
Written-By – Badi Assad, Sergio Assad
6    Song For Badi 3:39
Written-By – Kevin Callahan
7    Bate-Coxa 2:34
Written-By – Marco Pereira
8    Feixe 3:48
Written-By – Chico Cesar
9    Quase Um Funk P'ra Badi / Vírus 3:51
Written-By – Carlinhos Antunes, Jose Miguel Wisnik
10    Laser 3:37
Written-By – Jose Miguel Wisnik, Ricardo Breim
11    Ica 3:53
Written-By – Badi Assad
12    Pau Brasil 3:12
Written-By – Paulo Steinberg
13    Moods 7:50
Written-By – Shelia Zagury
14    Carta A L'Exili 2:12
Written-By – Albert García, Kristos Leontis
Credits :
Arranged By – Badi Assad (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14), Carlinhos Antunes (faixas: 9), Chico Cesar (faixas: 8), Cyro Baptista (faixas: 2, 3, 7, 11), Sergio Assad (faixas: 5, 9, 10)
Executive-Producer – David Chesky, Norman Chesky
Guitar, Vocals, Panpipes [Harmonic Copper Pipe], Electronics [Electric Fan], Percussion – Badi Assad
Percussion – Cyro Baptista (faixas: 2, 3, 7)

BADI ASSAD - Dança das Ondas (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Ondas 3:47
Badi Assad
2     Ballada de la Doncella Enamorada, for guitar (Black  Decameron No. 3) 5:48
Leo Brouwer
3     Asas da Pan air 4:41
Fernando Brant / Milton Nascimento / Fernando Brant / Milton Nascimento
4     La Huida de los Amantes por el Valle de los Echos, for guitar (Black Decameron No. 2) 6:06
Leo Brouwer
5     Vrap 4:00
Marcos Ferreira
6     Preludio e tocatina, for guitar 3:07
Sergio Assad
7     Joana Francesa 4:52
Chico Buarque
8     Pro meu pai tocar, for guitar 4:38
Sergio Assad
9     Saudades (3) for guitar 6:18
Roland Dyens
10     Valseana, for guitar 3:02
Sergio Assad
11     Duerme negrita 3:50
Eliseo Grenet / Cuban Traditional
12     Cançó del lladre, folk song 2:03
Catalan Traditional
Credits :
Israel de Almeida - Guitar (7 String Acoustic) (8)
Badi Assad - Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Jorge Assad - Mandolin (8)
Zé Eduardo Nazário - Percussion (6/9)

BADI ASSAD - Echoes of Brazil (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Entirely instrumental, Echoes of Brazil finds Badi Assad making the acoustic guitar her sole focus and paying tribute to some of Brazil's many heroes of the instrument. This splendid CD may not be the last word on Brazilian guitarists (who have played a crucial role in samba, choro, bossa nova, tropicalismo and Brazilian classical), but Assad does a fine job of reminding us what some of them contributed. It would have been impossible to tell the entire story on a single CD, and she makes no pretense of her tribute being all-inclusive. Assad, whose only accompaniment is acoustic bassist David Finck, salutes everyone from Garoto and Laurindo Almeida to Egberto Gismonti, Baden Powell and Luiz Bonfá. Much to her credit, she doesn't become a slavish imitator of any of them, and consistently demonstrates that she is a distinctive and impressive representative of the guitar herself. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Batucada (Nós E O Rio) 3:16
Written-By – Altamir Penha, Isaías Sávio, Edison Penha
2    Abismo De Rosas 4:35
Written-By – Canhoto
3    Escadão 4:16
Written-By – Laurindo Almeida
4    Emotiva No. 1 3:01
Written-By – Hélio Delmiro
5    Sem Título 2:05
Written-By – Luis Bonfá
6    Bachianinha No. 1 3:23
Written-By – Paulinho Nogueira
7    Interrogando 2:59
Written-By – João Pernambuco
8    Tempo Feliz 3:29
Written-By – Baden Powell
9    Uma Valsa E Dois Amores 3:08
Written-By – Dilermando Reis
10    Estudo Para Violão 4:23
Written-By – Egberto Gismonti
11    Jorge Da Fusa 2:53
Written-By – Garoto
12    Pixaim 2:57
Written-By – Marco Pereira
13    Furiosa 3:47
Written-By – Paulo Bellinati
14    Farewell 3:11
Written-By – Sérgio Assad
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – David Finck
Guitar [Fisher] – Badi Assad
Percussion – Jamey Haddad, Valtinho Anastacio

BADI ASSAD - Chameleon (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Badi Assad (bah-JEE ah-SAHJ) is very chameleon-like in her protean, changing character. On the fun, energetic opener "Rhythms of the World" Assad gives us worldbeat, acoustic guitar pieces with jazzy, almost scat-like vocals. Things are peaceful and serene for the instrumental (acoustic guitar, flute and percussion) "Butterfly." Lee Ritenour appears on guitar synthesizer for "Waves," while Assad, the multi-instrumentalist, syncopates a guitar pattern with her right hand and simultaneously performs a marimba solo with her left hand. For this piece, Assad provides breathy vocalizations and Portuguese vocals that recall Astrud Gilberto and some light bossa nova. The simple arrangements of guitar and vocals on her own "Ai Que Saudade d'Oce" and "Naked" are the most moving pieces here. Her delicate, expressive vocals and flamenco-tinged, acoustic guitar phrases are simply beautiful. Assad is sibling to the world music acoustic guitar pair Duo Assad. A fascinating showcase for her extraordinary ability is the rendition of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Finding new sadness and beauty in the piece, she performs an arrangement that includes bass and exotic percussion, including subtle chimes. Her elegant, lilting lyric and exquisite guitar work make for a truly winning combination on this peerless Brazilian album. by Tom Schulte
Tracklist :
1    Rhythms Of The World 6:15
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Backing Vocals – Andre Manga, Debby Holiday
Guitar – Jeff Scott Young
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
2    Butterfly 4:12
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Flute [Gold] – Viviana Guzman
Guitar – Badi Assad
Percussion – Cassio Duarte
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
3    Waves 4:52
Acoustic Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Don Murray, Jeff Scott Young, Lee Ritenour
Guitar, Synthesizer – Lee Ritenour
Guitar, Vocals, Marimba – Badi Assad
Percussion – Cassio Duarte
Written-By – Badi Assad
4    Al Que Saudade D'ocê 4:00
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Carlinhos Antunes
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Percussion – Cassio Duarte
Written-By – Vital Farias
5    Naked 5:31
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
6    Naio Naio 5:23
Acoustic Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Backing Vocals – Andre Manga*, Debby Holiday
Didgeridoo – Steven Kent
Drums – Hilary Jones
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Mixed By [Assistant] – Jeff Shannon
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
7    Rain Trance 1:25
Acoustic Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young, Sérgio Assad
Cello – Stephanie Fife
Drums – Hilary Jones
Guitar – Badi Assad
Viola – Virginia Lee Frazier
Violin – Carolyn Osbourn
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
8    Waterfall 3:07
Acoustic Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Drums – Hilary Jones
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
9    Dolphins In The Blue Mist 3:06
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young, Sérgio Assad
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Written-By – Badi Assad
10    Ponta De Areia 4:00
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Written-By – Fernando Brant, Milton Nascimento
11    While My Guitar Gently Weeps 5:10
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young, Sérgio Assad
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Guitar, Vocals – Badi Assad
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Written-By – George Harrison
12    Flowing ... Into Formlessness 5:56
Arranged By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young
Didgeridoo – Steven Kent
Flute [Wood] – Viviana Guzman
Guitar, Vocals, Djembe, Wind Chimes [Key Chimes], Voice [Wind] – Badi Assad
Percussion – Cassio Duarte
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Scott Young

BADI ASSAD - Verde (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The exotic, one of a kind Brazilian guitarist, singer, and rhythmic mouth and body percussionist has had a stop-and-start career with turns as mysterious and intriguing as
her music. After splashing on the scene with her Chesky debut Solo in 1994, continuing the stir (including vast critical acclaim) with Rhythms (1995) and releasing Chameleon on Verve in 1997, Badi Assad suffered from a series of personal issues that drew her back home for a few years. Fans who were excited about her 2003 re-emergence on the trio date Three Guitars with Larry Coryell and John Abercrombie will be beside themselves with the long-awaited Verde, her first solo project in six years. Those expecting a typical Brazilian vocal album -- she explains the title as "the shades of the Brazilian rain forest" -- will be surprised by Assad's versatility, which incorporates rhythmic textures from around the world. She opens with the very African-flavored voice and dense percussion call-and-response "Cheguei Meu Povo" and a vocal percussion pitter patter interlude before tapping into a sound more typical of classic romantic samba ("Basica"). That sultry side is balanced by her more aggressive vocal and guitar on the feisty "Nao Adianta," which blends modern rock influences with indigenous soundscaping, complete with birdcalls. Other tracks have slight classical leaning, and there's even a little avant-garde oddity apparent on the brief "Feminina." More mainstream ears will be glued to her sly, sexy reading of U2's "One" and soaring, folk- and chamber music-tinged take on Björk's dramatic "Bachelorette," which further confirms Assad's incredible willingness to tackle exotic challenges. Though all the stylistic zigzagging is fascinating, Assad is first and foremost a vocalist of heartbreaking intensity, and tracks like the mournful "Bom Dia Tristeza" best reflect her ability to penetrate the heart. by Jonathan Widran  
Tracklist :
1    Cheguei Meu Povo 2:36
Performer [Band] – Cordel do Fogo Encantado
Written-By – Mestre Walter
2    Asa Branca 1:10
Written-By – Humberto Teixeira, Luiz Gonzaga
3    Básica 3:18
Written-By – Tatiana Cobbett
4    Não Adianta 3:00
Percussion – Guilherme Kastrup
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Young
5    One 4:37
Written-By – U2
6    Voce Não Entendeu Nada 4:08
Written-By – Badi Assad
7    Viola Meu Bem 1:37
Arranged By – Badi Assad
Written-By – Traditional
8    O Verde É Maravilha 2:26
Performer [Venezuelan Cuatro] – Carlinhos Antunes
Written-By – José Jorge, Ruy Maurity, Tim Simenon
9    Feminina 1:58
Written-By – Badi Assad, Simone Soul
10    Bachelorette 4:41
Written-By – Björk
11    Seu Delegado 2:34
Arranged By, Clarinet – Luca Raele
Written-By – Jorge Bernardo, Juraci De A. Aranha, Raul G. Marques*
12    Estrangeiro Em Mim 4:38
Written-By – Badi Assad
13    Bom Dia Tristeza 3:39
Written-By – Adoniran Barbosa, Vinicius De Moraes
14    The Being Between 5:09
Written-By – Badi Assad, Jeff Young
15    Valse D'Amelie 2:05
Written-By – Yann Tiersen
16    Implorando 1:41
Written-By, Guitar – Toquinho
17    In My Little White Top (Básica) 3:49
Written-By – Tatiana Cobbett
Credits :
Accordion – Toninho Ferragutti (faixas: 10, 15)
Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Guitar [12 String] – Webster Santos (faixas: 3, 4, 13, 17)
Bass [Electric & Acoustic] – Rodolfo Stroeter (faixas: 4, 6, 8, 10, 11)
Cello – Dimos Guadaroulis (faixas: 10, 12)
Flute – Teco Cardoso (faixas: 3, 13, 17)
Guitar [7-string] – Edmilson Capelupi (faixas: 3, 17)
Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Kalimba, Design, Liner Notes, Directed By [Musical], Mixed By, Executive Producer – Badi Assad
Percussion – Guello (faixas: 3, 17), Naná Vasconcelos (faixas: 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Vocals – Carolina Assad (faixas: 7, 9)