Search - Baden Powell :: Images on Guitar

Star-quality; outside the BP canon

M. Johnson | Island of Queen Calafia | 04/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The quartet heard on this album (Baden Powell, bassist Ernesto Ribeiro-Goncalves, percussionist Alfredo Bessa, and drummer Joaquim Paes Henriques) was only together for this single recording session in Villingen, Germany. Janine de Waleyne had been a feature on BP's five previous records and would continue with him through another half-dozen sessions. All the instrumentalists would appear individually with BP again.



The compositions are Baden Powell's own, and reflect his eclectic repertoire. Musical elements from three hundred years and multiple cultures interweave in an essentially improvisational manner. The vocals are out in front - note the original German album is attributed to "Baden Powell + Janine".



"Petite Valse" was BP's concert lead-off for years after this recording. "Canto" is the most ambitious number. "Blues a volonte" is the big-time vocal.



While not in the mainstream of BP's work, this recording (made at the height of his most creative period) shows off his command of a wide body of music and his own special abilities in a program where the listener hears the intimate connection between all the performers. Call it Baden Powell's "Sergeant Pepper" and you won't be far from wrong.

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