Brazil
This Brazil's greatest hits album is made with such affection and panache that it's all but irresistible. Vocalist Rosemary Clooney, in her autumnal prime and possessing a spot-on feel for the material, teams up with guitarist-singer John Pizzarelli and a superb ensemble led by her pianist, John Oddo, in delivering this love letter to the magical music ofAntonio Carlos Jobim,Luis Bonfa, et al. The familiar tunes--"One Note Samba," "Boy from Ipanema," "Wave," "Dindi," "Corcovado," "Once I Loved," and eight others--get fresh, even surprising interpretations. Take Jobim's "Boy from Ipanema," where Clooney, her voice deepened by time but still resilient and lithe, duets with the exquisitely breathyDiana Krall, who adds gently swinging piano lines. Or that wonderful Ary Barroso standby, "Brazil," done in three tempos: an out-of-time opening with Clooney speak-singing; a very leisurely samba, recalling the 1940s and 1950s; and a brisk bounce, where Pizzarelli plays glowing-toned lines.The slower tunes have an enchantment all their own. Clooney invests such bittersweet songs as "Corcovado," "Once I Loved," and "Meditation" with lyric readings so wise and informed, you know she's been there. The achingly poignant "How Insensitive," a duet with Pizzarelli, is a heartstopper. The vibrant "Desafinado," perky "One Note Samba," and complex "Waters of March" are among the solid matchups between the voices of Clooney and her guitarist. They each swing in their own manner, and their harmonies make a good blend. Pizzarelli is the featured vocalist on "Wave" and "Dindi" and plays the beamingly upbeat "Sweet Happy Life" (a.k.a. "Samba de Orfeo"). Throughout, first-rate solos from the likes of saxophonistsGary FosterandNino Tempoand trombonist Chauncey Welsch add vital flavors. If you're a Clooney or traditional Brazilian fan, this is a must-have.--Zan Stewart