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2LP
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BTR 102LP
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London has a bright new Brazilian talent in town, who goes by the name of MOMO. One of the recent generation of artists influenced by the Brazilian classics, from 1970s tropicália, Os Mutantes, and Milton Nascimento. MOMO. releases his seventh album Gira, on Batov Records bringing together some very special musicians and guests from London's bustling and hustling jazz community, with fellow Brazilian artists, recorded and cut to tape at East London's Total Refreshment Center. A journeying collaboration which effortlessly swings, guided by Marcelo Frota's soft yet reassuringly familiar vocal, with ruminative and explorative brass twists, Gira was recorded with friends and guests including Alabaster DePlume on tenor sax (in whose band Marcelo toured), Jessica Lauren on keys, Tamar Osborn on baritone sax, Nick 'Emanative' Woodmansey on drums, Carwyn Ellis of Rio 18 fame on piano, Magnus Mehta from Penya on percussion and Caetano Malta on bass. Gira is MOMO.'s first album recorded in London. His debut from 2006, A Estética do Rabisco, was named one of the best albums of the year by the Chicago Reader and set Marcelo's musical path in motion. His singer-songwriting talents have already earned him plaudits from royalty like Patti Smith and David Byrne and he was invited to participate in A Tribute to Caetano to mark the 70th birthday of Brazilian musical legend, Caetano Veloso. Gira is a new departure for MOMO. While previous albums have always started with guitar and voice, Gira begins with the groove -- yet succeeds sublimely in balancing this new emphasis on spontaneous improvisation and songwriting. "Life brought me to London and I think I've made my lightest album; it could only have been created here," he says. When Brazil meets London, you can't help but move to the groove. For fans of: Sessa, Caetano, Veloso, Alabaster DePlume, Bala Desejo.
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