Terceiro Samba

Mestre Ambrósio's third album is a retrenchment of sorts after the wild and woolly Fuá na Casa de CaBRal, when the Recife roots-oriented sextet came across like a punk Beausoleil from northeastern Brazil. Terceir O Samba lacks the intriguing hell-for-leather charge of its predecessor, but it does offer a high level of song craftsmanship and attention to sonic detail that sticks close to its roots sources. The group's two songwriters, Siba and Sergio Cassiano, split the compositions with melodies driven either by Hélder Vasconcellos' accordion or Siba's rabeca, a scratchy-sounding fiddle. The arrangements are almost all acoustic, but the rhythm section is a model of insistent yet unobtrusive propulsion on "Povo" and "Sóis." The light, lilting "Vida" and "Saudade" capture the overall flavor of the music, and the massed vocals backed by flutes and percussion on "Mestre Guia" sound like they could have roots in music from the Amazon. Terceir O Samba lacks big bang excitement, but it's a very well-crafted, quietly pleasing disc that should appeal to those interested in contemporary takes on traditional Brazilian forms.