Morelenbaum & Sakamoto’s ‘Casa’
September 15th, 2002 by freddie96
B I G C H I L L R E C O R D O F T H E W E E K
16/09/02
Morelenbaum 2 / Sakamoto
‘Casa’
(Sony Classical)
When I find myself in one of those towering musical megastores that now inevitably occupy the centre of every large city, I am always curious to see what is going on in those civilized enclaves called ‘Jazz’ and ‘Classical’. Generally sectioned off from the vulgar hubbub of the pop marketplace – sometimes quite literally in a small store within a store – they radiate an aura of discerning intelligence and careful cultivation a million miles away from yer average record shop.
One has only to glance at the racks of new releases, however, to see that these musical worlds are every bit as vibrant and energetic as their supposedly more ‘popular’ or ‘younger’ neighbours. This project is a case in point. Bringing together Ryuichi Sakamoto with Jaques and Paula Morelenbaum in order to play some of the less well-known compositions of Brazilian maestro Antonio Carlos (‘Tom’) Jobim, it is a record of such exquisite purity and sensitivity that it would be a shame if its release on Sony Classical were to obscure its broader appeal to music lovers of every stripe.
Recorded in Jobim’s house in Rio last year on the very piano at which the pioneer of bossa nova composed so much of his material, ‘Casa’ has a very special sound. It is at once thoroughly serene – Sakamoto’s piano-playing is beautifully sensitive and restrained, allowing the richness of Jaques Morelenbaum’s cello to really sing – while Paula Morelenbaum’s vocals add a degree of passion and languid sensuality that is often the stronger for having such delicate accompaniment.
Clearly the combination of performers, time and place created its own chemistry, for this is a record that sustains a mood of gentle poetry and human warmth throughout. The occasional sound of ocean waves or crickets way back in the mix emphasises that this music emanates from a real, human space rather than a recording studio. It has a lot of soul, as well as harmonic perfection.
One clichéd way of putting this would be to say it makes an exquisite Sunday morning chill-out album. Of course ‘Casa’ can be just that, but its appeal goes beyond the pleasures of being soothed and relaxed. Having bossa nova rhythms and Brazilian song-writing approached in such a classical manner makes for some fascinating listening. At the beginning of ‘O Grande Amor’, you find yourself in the world of Chopin; as soon as the gentle beat comes in, you are transported into the 60s, and when Paula Morelenbaum sings, you know you are in the company of a contemporary. Maybe one day Bebel Gilberto will sing like this…
Luciana de Moraes (the daughter of Jobim’s collaborator Vinicius de Moraes) has commented that ‘Casa’ takes her back ‘to one of those evenings at Tom’s house, when we talked about love, music and poetry, while in the background the most perfect Brazilian songs filled the night air.’ It’s an excellent description of the atmosphere that permeates this beguiling record, and one which I am only too glad to welcome into my house.
Freddie B.
