Concert Review: Alda Rezende, Ponsonby Social Club, 18 September 2020

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Alda Rezende has a commanding presence when she comes on stage. From Minas Gerais State in heartland Brazil. A spicy gumbo of Indigenous, Portuguese, African and European people. Music which draws from Latin, Folk, Country, Popular, Classical, Jazz and Punk! Tasty soul food to accompany the music tonight. All the senses tantalized and entertained tonight at Ponsonby Social Club.

Rezende is well-known and respected as a great artist in Brazil. Maybe not a household name in our Big Country with a tiny population, but that is relative. A veteran of Jazz festivals throughout New Zealand and Australia. Led a number of first-class ensembles. You get the impression she brings out an exceptional performance from her band tonight.

Which is Juliana Antoniol on Yamaha keyboard and Henriques Morales on electric bass. Also from Brazil. Lance Bentley on drums. Tangata whenua invested in Latin Beat Spirit.

A warm-up and we see what a big, warm voice Alda has, for a first-timer like me. Like a blend of Ella Fitzgerald and Big Mama Thornton.

No Rancho Fundo starts the show. Traditionally a Country song. Immediately starts with a shuffle beat and a Jazz workout on the bass. The engine-room excels all night, and they immediately set the pace here. Jazz drives the tune with a good workout on keyboards. The voice is sophisticated, low and mellow. Laughter from Alda at the finish. It didn’t sound Country, got too fast. Reprised as an encore and played lighter in tone.

Cadina do Samba is a Home Country classic. But it sounds like Funk. Latin-infused Funk and the music bounces and shakes. Expressive singing from Alda makes this infectious.

Pra Machucan Mu Coracao  is Soul Jazz with a Samba beat. Great low range singing. Piano plays high notes like warm summer rain. Gilberto Gil tune, I think.

The great Milton Nascimento’s songs feature tonight. Born in Rio De Janeiro but moved to the Minas State as a child. Grew up there and contributed immensely to the sound of Minas. The region is full of character and passions. Came to prominence as a Gold Rush state. So, there’s wealth, prosperity, innovation and shady dealings. Add in diversity of cultures and ethnicity. This is reflected in the melting pot of music styles

San Jicente is the first of several Nascimento songs. Begins with a Folk sound. Grounded in the village. Slow and echoing vast old mountains. Then the beat and melody pick up and it swings. Incantatory singing with African colouring. The song ends with a sustained acapella flourish.

Canoa Canoa is similar, and also Milton. The engine-room powers this one up quickly with Funk bass lines. Rhythm dominates and it resonates. Tribal Village Funk.

Fazenda is a chance for Alda to show her chops. Slow start and gravitates to a Soul workout with Latin flavour. Great phrasing and the audience cheer.

Oiola Jiola was written by Nascimento at and about the time of the military dictatorship. A fluid note-bending bass. Soulful singing with Folk and Gospel tones. The piano leads the melody. A great showcase of how all the different styles bleed in to one another and results in a distinctive signature sound.

Amor de Indio is straight Contemporary Pop and Alda reminds me of one of the great female leads of the Sixties. Let’s say Dusty, as I can hear some Folk too. The piano stretches out with a free-ranging melodic Jazz solo.

Alda explains to us about a strong Punk and Post-Punk movement in Minas. FACA is pronounced with a hard K, not a soft C. You get the picture. The subject matter is pain. Sounds Indie-Pop with a Rock’n’Roll rhythm. Faster vocals but melodic. Still sounds Latin.

Dos Lados da Camcao is more contemporary. Written by younger musicians but still in touch with Roots music. Kid Cava Quinho has a Samba beat which comes from Rio. But the composer is from Minas. A Funk rhythm actually starts the song and is there in the background. It’s light and bounces and is close to Pop. Singing is faster and is Latin Rap. Hooks abound. The Bass and drums take some solos.

The close of the evening obviously had to be Aquarela do Brasil, known world-wide as Brazil. Written by Ary Barroso, also from Minas. Has said he wanted to free the Samba from the tragedies of life and the sensual scenario. To celebrate the wealth and greatness of the land.

It does sound like a Samba with swing. With a Pop melody but tough and strutting.

A night of great Soul food and superb multi-faceted music. Completely Brasil.

Ponsonby Social Club is excelling and leading the charge to recover our spirit.

Rev Orange Peel 

Rev Orange Peel
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