Search - Rick Udler, Maria Alvim :: Rhythm & Romance

A stunningly perfect album!

Pink Noodle | Duncanville, TX USA | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Six stars - a stunningly perfect album! The other reviewer comments on the guitar player (great) and his compositions (also great). I want to point out that Maria has a superb voice, and the arrangements are top-notch. The focus is one guitar and one voice, with quite a bit of percussion and some flute (and a few other colorful touches). Strong Brazilian flavour leavened with tasteful jazz.



Maria sings a few songs in English, including a Gershwin cover, and does convincing English better than most I've heard.



If you like any styles of acoustic Brazilian music, and/or acoustic jazz, you will love the CD. Some sellers have it for a dollar or less, someone should snatch up every copy and give them to your friends! As I write, the CD is already 9 years old so I don't know what chances it has for enormous publicity. But even without publicity, buy it! It will definitely remain an 'unknown classic' for decades to come. Highly recommended.



Great liner notes - lyrics in Portuguese and English, and an excellent essay about the musicians."

Dedication & Soul

Abrao Chachamovits | FL - USA | 09/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the late 70's I remember when this young fellow, Ricky Udler, had moved to the building I lived in São Paulo. For the next few years, I saw a talented and sensitive person flourish not only in his love for Blues and Jazz, but in his complete devotion to various Brazilian artists. True, we used to play Blues together, but Rick had a "thing" for the finest Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, Grupo D'Alma, Egberto Gismonti, and Hermeto Paschoal that truly came from the soul. We lost touch after he left Brazil in the early 80's, and yet, to my extraordinary surprise and delight, hearing Rick, 20 years later as a highly professional and refined musician truly touches my heart and I am sure, will do the same to anyone with a soul. All of his compositions are greatly inspired; adding hints of his various musical influences, and above all, his distinctive Brazilian "touch", all in great style, rhythm, and romance. I am so proud and happy that my dear old friend made it, and made it his way! Congrats!Abe Chachamovits"

Wonderful!

Kirtland Peterson | Baltimore, MD, USA | 11/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard Rick Udler on a local jazz station about a week ago; a piece from PAPAYA was on the digital turntable. Wow. I immediately ordered both PAPAYA and RHYTHM & ROMANCE. R&R arrived first.



Must say I love truth in advertising when it comes to certain CD titles. "Mick Jagger's Christmas Carols" would leave little to the imagination--and check expectations. With "romance" in the title you know R&R will be romantic; R&R is not pre-PAPAYA. I appreciated that mental set. (R&R is to be filed under Jazz/Brazilian. I liked the CD before I unwrapped it!)



And I heartily agree with the other reviews here. What a wonderful CD! I'm fond of putting new CDs on REPEAT for a time, and each time 'round R&R got better and better. Love it.



Kirtland Peterson"