For those unaware, on this Brazilian fusion jazz quartet project, Ben Sher pays musical tribute to Tarsila de Aguiar do Amaral (1886-1973), a Brazilian modernist painter.

To know Ben Sher is to recognize a virtuoso. An acclaimed jazz guitarist who hails from Pittsburgh, Sher has toured the world as an artist and now resides in New York. That he has crisscrossed the globe is evident in his music, which is a beautiful blend between jazz and classical that draws upon traditions from across the Americas.

When you listen closely to his performances, you hear the influences of Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Kenny Burrell and legendary Brazilian guitarists like Baden Powell, João Gilberto, and Raphael Rabello.

Furthermore, in Sher, we have an example of the student becoming the teacher: He is now a Professor at Berklee College of Music and Kutztown University.

Samba for Tarsila is a marvelous mashup of familiar and feel-good songs fashioned as Brazilian jazz fusion. Let’s start with unpacking the title: Tarsila de Aguiar do Amaral (1886-1973) was a Brazilian modernist painter. Tarsila is considered a leading Latin American artist of the twentieth century. Her paintings often involved long and colorful shapes with vibrant natural elements from Brazil’s topography.

Indeed, her landscapes inspired Sher’s soundscapes. Her portrayal of Brazil thorough abstract semi-literal images was the inspiration for this very album, said Sher. Samba for Tarsila is eclectic and electric, entertaining, and enlivening.

And the musicians are absolutely world class. They are a cohesive group that navigate the obstacle course of syncopation with dexterity and grace. Gary Fisher is a seasoned New York jazz pianist, performing around New York with Vincent Herring, Monte Croft, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth and others.

Gregory M. Jones is another veteran New York musician, with a list of touring and recordings credits with Astrud Gilberto, Jon Lucien, Carly Simon, Max Roach and Michael Urbaniak. Special guest Vanderlei Pereira is one of the most revered Brazilian drummers in New York who recorded with Airto Moreira, Lenny Andrade, Toots Thieleman, and Dom Salvador.

1. Antropofagia
2. Samba For Tarsila
3. Twilight
4. Eu Vim Da Bahia
5. On Green Dolphin Street
6. Never Can Say Goodbye
7. Mas Que Nada

This vibrantly opulent new recording opens on the spirited, underlyingly funky Antropfagia and then brings us the veritably shimmering Samba For Tarsila, the luxuriant Twilight and then we get brought forth the playfully expressive Eu Vim Da Bahia and the free flowing summer’s breeze of On Green Dolphin Street (originally written by Bronisław Kaper with lyrics by Ned Washington, this now jazz standard was composed for the film of the same name in 1947).

Along next on this new collection of Brazilian-jazz with a tinge of Latin and R&B influences, is their sunset-leaning rendition of the Clifton Davis-written Never Can Say Goodbye (which, interestingly enough, was written for the Supremes, but was instead first recorded by the Jackson 5 in 1971), the album coming to an all too soon close on their gently fervent, yet smoothly hued perception of the 1963 Jorge Ben Jor song Mas Que Nada.

www.bensherguitarist.com

Samba for Tarsila [Official Trailer]