"Bim Bom" - Minor 7th review

2009-11-01
Minor 7th Review by Alan Fark
"Some very challenging music which comes off as breezy as a Brazilian evening"

http://www.minor7th.com/shorttakes12_09.html

Ithamara Koorax & Juarez Moreira "Bim Bom," 2009

João Gilberto has been known as the "Bossa Nova Pope" ever since releasing his first album in 1959. To say that he has been an influential force in Brazilian music ever since is an incredible understatement. Brazilian singer Ithamara Koorax and guitarist Juarez Moreira have teamed together to laud Gilberto's contributions with the recording of "Bim Bom - The Complete João Gilberto Songbook," consolidating the entire Gilberto catalogue of compositions.

Moreira sums up Gilberto's particular genius: "Although some of the songs may seem very simple, it's a false impression. Gilberto's songs are very demanding in harmonic terms, demanding a lot of technique. That's the main ingredient of Gilberto's magic; to make very difficult and intricate things seem so easy and sound so natural."

Koorax and Moreira take that lesson to heart, and lay down some very challenging music which comes off as breezy as a Brazilian evening.