Review #5
People love to call music a language, but they generally overlook the fact that this language is based in grammar, including the lyrical word, melodies, harmony, and rhythm. Each piece of the language has strength on its own, whether its witty lyrics, singable melodies, lush harmony, or danceable rhythms. When you put them together, that’s when the communication begins. The way that these grammatical elements come together into a cohesive statement form the quality of the work, comparable to the way that a great author places words in a novel. There’s a poetry inherent in the way that words, harmony, melody, and rhythm interact, and when a musician captures that artistry, it makes for a compelling listen.
Italian vocalist Mari Noble certainly has a handle on the idea of language, and it’s a concept that she freely applies to her work on stage. This stems from her connection with the spoken word, as she tackles give different languages fluently, often singing in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. She has spent a good deal of time performing in Brazil, and as a result, she has embraced samba, bossa nova, and more with open arms. Her group Nobresil has performed extensively in Brazil, leading Nobre to perform alongside some of the countries top musicians. She recently released a live album with a collection of jazz standards, original music, and Brazilian classics, entitled Live and Alive. As Nobre mixes strong lyrics with driving bossa nova rhythms, classic melodies, and colorful harmonies, there’s a strong sense of language on the album, which speaks volumes. Today’s video finds Nobre performing with her band Nobresil on a clever bossa nova arrangement of “Fascinating Rhythm,” arranged by Jovino Santos Neto – enjoy!
