Singing in both Portuguese and English, Daniela Soledade’s debut album displays her mastery of classic samba and bossa nova standards with some pleasing surprises, including “Ninho.” The entire album builds toward that original composition by demonstrating Soledade’s mastery of the form and highlighting the pristine clarity of her vocals.
That sort of skill makes sense, though, given her familial past. Soledade’s roots as a third-generation musician are explored through the inclusion of her father, guitarist Paulinho Soledade, on a single track. And the bandleader revisits a composition by her grandfather, Paulo Soledade, and Antônio Carlos Jobim, “Sonho Desfeito.” From the opening cut, “Eu Sambo Mesmo,” a samba standard featuring Duduka Da Fonseca on drums, to the closer, “I Wish You Love,” A Moment Of You represents a careful curation of compositions and an expansive cast of players, each of them contributing the perfect nuanced sound, intimacy, harmonious melodies and poetic rhythms while injecting the music with much-needed freshness.
A Moment Of You: Eu Sambo Mesmo; The Man I Love; Song For Baden; Dunas; Safely In Your Arms; Veja Bem Meu Bem; Sonho Desfeito; Ninho; Someone To Light Up My Life; I Wish You Love. (41:52)
Personnel: Daniela Soledade, vocals; Nate Najar, guitar, cavaquinho, bass, vibraphone, drums, percussion; Martin Wind (1, 3), Tommy Cecil, bass; Maucha Adnet, percussion; Jeff Rupert, saxophone; Eddie Metz, drums; Duduka Da Fonseca, drums (1, 3), percussion (4, 7); Paulinho Soledade, guitar (3); Yves Dharamraj, cello (6); Patrick Bettison, harmonica (8).
Rating - 3.5/5
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