Music Review ~ Trumpeter Claudio Roditi's "Bons Amigos"

Bons Amigos means good friends in Portuguese, and it is the title of the latest album from Brazilian trumpet and flugelhorn master, Claudio Roditi. What you get on this album are ten songs that feel like a cool breeze on a warm summer day. Like a gentle breeze, it’s inviting, pleasant, and downright refreshing. If you’re looking for a blowing session with blistering, unrelenting hard-edged solos, this isn’t it. Instead, Roditi and friends create a groovy atmosphere that invokes some of the cool sounds of bossa nova, and rhythms of samba, in a fresh, non-derivative manner. 

One thing the listener will notice about Roditi’s sound is how robust, rich, and full bodied it is. The distinct warmth of his horn fully envelopes the listener. It’s a remarkable sound, and it did not happen by accident. Roditi employs rotary valve instruments, as opposed to piston valve instruments. Rotary valve instruments are typically used in classical music. Roditi is the only jazz trumpeter of note that uses rotary valve horns. In Roditi’s own words, “They (rotary valves) get a warmer sound than the piston valve instruments. The wrap of the tubing is curved, like a bugle, and the bends of the tubing are wider than on piston valve trumpets. The bell is wider, too. I just really like the warmth. And on top of that, I love the way they look." 

Roditi is joined by Donald Vega on piano, Romero Lubambo on electric and acoustic guitars, Marco Panascia on bass, and Mauricio Zottarelli on drums. The album begins with the track O Sonho (The Dream), a composition by Egberto Gismonti. Roditi had played with Gismonti on the original recording of the song back home in Brazil in the 60s. It’s a great opener that segues into Para Nada (For Nothing) seamlessly.

LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE STREAMING TRACKS FROM THE ALBUM

The third track is a Roditi composition entitled Bossa de Mank, and the star of the show here is the pianist, Donald Vega. His solo begins at the 3:15 mark, and he proceeds to show a playful, nimble style on the keys that is a blast to listen to. Two minutes into Vega’s solo, there is a playful back and forth between Roditi, Vega and Mauricio Zottarelli on the drums. It just feels like old friends playing together on a jam session. They have great chemistry together. Bons Amigos indeed.

 The title track Bons Amigos appears midway on the album and is followed by Ligia, on which Roditi shows off his vocal prowess on the Antonio Carlos Jobim composition. While Roditi’s singing isn’t terrible, it certainly is not his strong point. He’s capable of emoting much more convincingly behind a horn. Thankfully, he only sang on one song. It’s the only weak point on an otherwise stellar album.

Rounding out the album tracks are Levitation, Fantasia, Amandamada, and Piccolo Samba. Levitation doesn’t have a Brazilian aesthetic. It’s a straight ahead number. Piccolo Samba is a fine finale for the album. It’s a funky little number that brings the album full circle, and wraps things up in an upbeat manner, like the first song O Sonho. 

Bons Amigos is simply fun to listen to. Roditi and his friends have recorded an easily accessible album that anyone (even non jazz fans) can enjoy. I know I did. I fully recommend it.

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Atane Ofiaja is an audiophile and passionate jazz fan. He writes the majority of the album reviews for the website.

He has written numerous articles and covered music events, concerts and festivals, primarily for J&R Electronics in New York City.

Atane is a music aficionado, foodie, and a photography hobbyist. His blog is The Sophisticated Audiophile.