Search - Steve Barta :: Another Life Brazil

Altogether pleasurable

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 06/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Barta lives in the same town I do, Colorado Springs (well, I actually live in Monument, 20 minutes north of the Springs), but this is the first time I've run across his music. Too bad for me. Almost anyone would be thrilled to have a musician of his caliber living in their hometown.An accomplished pianist, bandleader, composer, and producer, with Another Life Brazil Barta has absolutely nailed the Brazilian vibe. Having assembled nearly a who's who of Brazilian musicians, including Paulinho da Costa and Dori Caymmi, and written a handful of completely authentic-sounding tunes in a variety of styles, he's put it all together with striking arrangements and crystal clear production. It's also a real pleasure to hear Herbie Mann on what must be one of his very last recording sessions.Over and above the magnificent music he makes on this disc, Barta is also an accomplished author, having written a standard work on jazz scales. Called by the late Herbie Mann "a curious blend of Aaron Copeland and Antonio Carlos Jobim," Barta has managed to synthesize a wide variety of styles and come out with a piano sound and composing voice entirely his own.Thoroughly enjoyable, once again proving that jazz, even when produced on a private label, can be some kind of universal musical language. Highly recommended."