Cheio De Dedos

This is the third CD of Carioca dentist Guinga (Carlos Althier de Souza, 46) in his belated discography, which was awarded with three Sharp prizes. Intended to be a cultural chronicle of Rio de Janeiro, it has the genre choro as a glue for all the whole. Respecting the tradition and modernizing it at the same time, it brings a inventively crafted harmony together with angular melody lines directly descended from classical achievements of the 20th century. The sophisticated arrangements never compromise, offering a real obstacle for the average listener, harassed by easy listening these days. Paying tribute to distinguished musicians (who had always made the choro an important part of their lives), Jacob do Bandolim, Rafael Rabelo, and Villa-Lobos, from the 15 recorded tracks only two are sung: "Ária de Opereta," interpreted by funk singer Ed Motta in an expressive and heartfelt rendition, and "Impressionados," a choro that makes reference to the impressionist movement, delivered by Chico Buarque. The overall result is at the same time perfectionism and spontaneity: Guinga doesn't edit his songs after written. "Me Gusta A Lagosta" enriches the musical landscape with an Afro-Cuban rendition delivered by pianist Chano Dominguez, string section Diapason, and percussionist Eladio Amat. Modern Brazilian popular music at it's best.