New Orleans-based Afro-Brazilian guitarist Geovane Santos returns with his first album of all original music. His initial release was a collection of songs from the great bossa nova composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. His second, Purple House, was a duo effort with one of his mentors, New Orleans guitar legend Carl LeBlanc.

When I reviewed Purple House in these pages, I noted the bassist Nick Benoit and suggested we hear more of his stellar playing since he was only on a limited number of the cuts. Benoit is all over Santos’s latest effort, Ciranda.

The album opens with a demonstration of Santos’s formidable chops. But it really gets going when the first of several extremely catchy original melodies takes off. “Your Song” is dedicated to his partner and the love is apparent throughout the composition.

The album flows like the Amazon with a variety of sounds, peaking with “Ipé.” This tune is absolutely my favorite on the album and rivals some of the best Brazilian songs I have ever heard. It starts slow, and then begins to percolate with the most sensuous groove. I dare you to get it out of your head.

Benoit does a fine job articulating the groove along with drummer Kalif Brown and keyboardist Mike Torregano. Most of the other tracks on the album, including all of the trio songs, feature fellow Brazilian Fernando Lima on drums.

The title cut demonstrates Santos’s neo-classical chops on acoustic guitar with Bryce Eastwood providing sympathetic sax work. It’s the only song with vocals and Santos sounds uncannily like the great Brazilian vocalist Seu Jorge on a tune dedicated to his two grandmothers.

The album closes with three bonus tracks, one of which, “Lavender Street Parade,” shows the guitarist’s close affinity to the culture of New Orleans with its street beat, horns and sassy melody.

Ciranda is a tour-de-force for a young artist fully inhabiting his new home, his instrument, and his ability as a composer. I can’t wait for the next one.

 

Geovane Santos, Ciranda