Trio Da Paz & Joe Locke
Live At JazzBaltica
MaxJazz
By George W. Harris

Brazilian music, in my humble opinion, is what is currently saving the present state of jazz. It is frightening to think what jazz would be like without the contributions of samba and bossa nova. Trio Da Paz, which is made up of guitarist extraordinaire Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, meets up with swinging vibist Joe Locke to deliver an hour’s worth of freewheeling and fluid Brazilian jazz. Mixing originals with some standards and Jobim, The TDP demonstrate exhilarating interplay with fun loving and formidable rhythms. Lubambo’s guitar work, particularly on “Pro Flavio” is as tasty as a chicken kabob, while Matta and Da Fonseca provide brilliant supporting but unobtrusive underlying groundwork. Locke joins in and creates a caroming effect similar to a pinball parlor in the frighteningly rambunctious “Copacabana” and “Bachiao.” As with the masters of any style, TDP is able to samba-ize just about anything, and they put “All The Things You Are” through the Brazilian Waring Blender, and turn out a delicious drink. Imbibe this concoction regularly!