The double-edged joke is, of course, that it is clear that this is one of the most extraordinarily brilliant expressions of musical compatibility. Mr Bosco, who co-authored the song joins in the joke when he sings the lyric on the ninth track of the recording, when the great reveal of the inside joke takes place. So, I won’t spoil the fun here… 

These two musicians have – over a number of years – given new meaning to what I believe is almost insolent virtuosity on each of their instruments. There is a sense that the music here is the kind that needs but a spark of a proverbial safety-match to kick things off; a liquid trill played by Mr De Holanda on his 10-stringed mandolin, or a vaunted arpeggio by Mr Rubalcaba.

Explosive creativity of an absolute unbridled kind ensues. This not even the kind where one of the musicians completes the other’s phrase; to suggest that would be to underplay the sheer magical interaction of these two musicians, each of whom seem to reveal their musical ‘poker-hand’ with the flick of an incendiary switch and at warp speed.

Just when you think you’ve worked out where the sculpted [sometimes deftly chiselled] melodic invention will lead you it drops in on you from a dramatically direction. Exquisite examples of this are everywhere.

Compelling examples, though, Mr Rubalcaba’s torrential virtuosity and Mr De Holanda’s rarefied poetry on the pianist’s composition Blues Lundvall, and on the dexterous figurations and marvellous contouring – again played at breakneck speed – on the rhythmically-challenging work by the mandolinist, Flying Chicken, easily one of the most deftly negotiated pieces of music [by both musicians].

More of these masterful histrionics appear on the Stevie Wonder classic Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing, on which the dazzling harmonica wizard Gabriel Grossi also makes an appearance. And there is nothing like a brilliant version of Silence [written by the great Charlie Haden] for a change of pace.

I would have placed the vocal version of Incompatiblidade De Gênios sung by the inimitable Mr Bosco himself at the end of the album. Perhaps it is just as good where it appears because the composer and vocalist changes somewhat the lyric line, still keeping the biting sarcasm of the original [that he voiced during his legendary concert Obrigado, Gente! [available on DVD as well as on CD].

By the time you get to the end of the album, with two dreamy songs Mr Rubalcaba’s glassy Transparence and Maro and John Blanda’s Saudade, Saudade you realise how wrong I might be. After all, an album of this ingenuity can only be left in suspended animation, leaving you, the expectant listener, thirsting for more. So perhaps we can hope for another sojourn from these two remarkable musicians.

^{Deo gratis…}

Music – 1. Incompatiblidade De Gênios [instrumental]; 2. Blues Lundvall; 3. Mandalagh; 4. Yolanda Anas; 5. Flying Chicken; 6. Silence; 7. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing; 8. Choro Fado; 9. Incompatiblidade De Gênios [vocal] 10. Transparence; 11. Saudade, Saudade.

Musicians – Hamilton de Holanda: 10-string mandolin; Gonzalo Rubalcaba: piano; Gabriel Grossi: harmonica [7]; João Bosco: vocal [9].

Released: 2024
Label: Sony Music Brasil
Runtime: 1:02:59

from https://latinjazznet.com