Music Review by Russ Musto, Downbeat
Carol Bach-y-Rita Minha Casa/My House ARUGULA RECORDS ***½
“This sophomore release from Carol Bach-y-Rita ought to bring well-deserved recognition to the versatile Californian vocalist. A genre-spanning effort, the album reflects the singer’s multinational upbringing and wide range of experience performing on four continents. Joined by a team of top-tier West Coast instrumentalists equally well versed in jazz and Brazilian music, Bach-y-Rita and company tackle the varied program of new compositions and arrangements with striking originality. The disc’s opening track, pianist Bob Cantos’ “Morning Coffee,” is easily one of the most infectious songs to grace a jazz album in recent memory. The swinging samba opens with drummer Mike Shapiro’s brushes and Larry Koonse’s guitar setting up the Brazilian rhythms on top of which Bach-y-Rita scats an energized introductory chorus before launching into the cleverly constructed lyric. Afro-Peruvian and European Classical influences are evident in Koonse’s arrangement of “You’d Be So Nice To come Home To,” on which Bach-y-Rita’s voice takes center stage, drawing out each line over the spare backing of guitar and bata drums. On “Night In Tunisia,” arranged by the singer and bassist John Leftwich, she scats and sings the Eddie Jefferson lyric with lightning-fast articulation. Her samba-reggae take on the Joni Mitchell/Charles Mingus collaboration “The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines” is delivered with equally impressive rhythmic aplomb, while her Portuguese vocalizing on “Pra Quem Quiser Me Visitar” demonstrates her ability to cross linguistic boundaries.”
—Russ Musto
Minha Casa /My House: Morning Coffee; You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; A Night In Tunisia; ’Tis Autumn; The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines; Nature Boy; Trust; Pra Quem Quiser Me Visitar; Gardening With No Pants; Love Look Away; While My Lady Sleeps. (44:11) Personnel: Carol Bach-y-Rita, vocals; Larry Koonse, guitar; Bill Cantos, piano; John Leftwich, bass; Mike Shapiro, drums, percussion; Dudu Fuentes, percussion (9). Ordering info: carolbach-y-rita.com
http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2017/DB1703/_art/DB1703.pdf