Where technology meets art

Neal Alger Brazilian Quartet, December 2019 – Chicago

Brazilian music has a long storied history here in the United States beginning as early as 1953.  However, its popularity was cemented in the early 1960s starting with a goodwill tour of Brazil and other South American countries (1961) by American jazz musicians. Upon return, some of them (Charlie Byrd in particular) recorded Bossa Nova/jazz albums, which with the help of Stan Getz and other musicians soon caught on with the public.  Another tour of South America was launched (1962) and more Bossa Nova albums followed, which increased its popularity.  The beautiful sound of Brazilian jazz is wonderfully captured here by Neal Alger and his quartet.  If you have any doubt as to the quality of the playing, listen to the first two songs which are brilliantly executed combining both the beauty of Brazilian music and stunning jazz improvisation. This is easy-to-listen to music combined with a depth of improvisation that makes this outing special.  Making the event even more captivating is the guitarist’s use of an older tube guitar amplifier which on this recording is appropriately captured by a vintage tube microphone (Telefunken 251e).  This tape is a work of beauty.