Storytelling (Naná Vasconcelos album)
| Storytelling | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Label | Hemisphere[1] | |||
| Producer | Naná Vasconcelos | |||
| Naná Vasconcelos chronology | ||||
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Storytelling is an album by the Brazilian musician Naná Vasconcelos.[2][3] It was released in 1995.[4][5]
Production[edit]
Recorded in 1992 and 1993, the album was produced in part by Vasconcelos.[6][7] Many of the songs are about the Amazon rainforest; others are semi-autobiographical.[8][9] Vasconcelos added found sounds to the music.[10] He employed more electronic effects than on previous albums, although he still made use of the berimbau.[11][12] "Curtain" was cowritten by the Ambitious Lovers' Peter Scherer.[13]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [15] |
| MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | [11] |
| Orange County Register | [13] |
The Guardian wrote: "There are string quartets, choirs, children's voices, the berimbau, gongs, accordions, talking drums, the works. The atmosphere he evokes is of the street-corner, the forest, cattle in fields. It isn't jazz, but Vasconcelos is an improviser to the tips of his fingers, and understands the impulses of improvisers from whatever roots they spring."[6] The Orange County Register deemed the album "a mesmerizing blend of Afro-Brazilian-jazz-global grooves"; it later named it one of the best albums of 1995.[13][16] The Omaha World-Herald opined that "some samba rhythms provide brief interest, but mostly the music wanders somewhat aimlessly."[17]
AllMusic called the music "often sweet and charming, and just as often thoughtful and engaging—never boring, annoying, or mediocre; it's also impossible to pigeonhole."[14] The Miami Herald labeled Storytelling "beautiful," writing that "Vasconcelos takes listeners on an ambient journey deep into the Amazon."[18]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Curtain / Cortina" | |
| 2. | "Fui Fuio (Na Praça)" | |
| 3. | "An Afternoon in the North / Uma Tarde no Norte" | |
| 4. | "A Day in the Amazon / Um Dia no Amazonas" | |
| 5. | "Clementina (No Terreiro)" | |
| 6. | "Wind Calling Wind / Vento Chamando Vento" | |
| 7. | "You Don't Want to Know / Tu Nem Quer Saber" | |
| 8. | "Northeast / Nordeste" | |
| 9. | "Tiroleo" | |
| 10. | "Night of Stars / Noite das Estrellas" |
References[edit]
- ^ Galm, Eric A. (June 30, 2010). The Berimbau: Soul of Brazilian Music. Univ. Press of Mississippi.
- ^ "In Memoriam: Naná Vasconcelos". DownBeat. March 11, 2016.
- ^ Nazareth, Errol (June 16, 1995). "A World of Wonders". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 100.
- ^ Hund, Peter (Oct 1995). "'Storytelling'". World Trade. 8 (9): 16.
- ^ Glanvill, Rick (Sep 1, 1995). "Roots". Vox. No. 59. p. 86.
- ^ a b Fordham, John (21 July 1995). "Music: Jazz CD of the week: Nana Vasconcelos". The Guardian. p. T17.
- ^ Verna, Paul (Jul 15, 1995). "Album reviews — Storytelling by Nana Vasconcelos". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 28. p. 66.
- ^ Ratliff, Ben (November 11, 2008). The Jazz Ear: Conversations Over Music. Macmillan.
- ^ Darling, Cary (July 30, 1995). "Beat Crazy". Orange County Register. p. F11.
- ^ "Prelude". Jazziz. Vol. 23, no. 7. Jul 2006. pp. 10–18.
- ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. pp. 791–792.
- ^ Weiss, Mara; Beto, Nego (1995). "Malditos and Malandros". The Beat. Vol. 14, no. 4. pp. 38–39.
- ^ a b c Darling, Cary (September 8, 1995). "Worldbeat". Orange County Register. p. P52.
- ^ a b "Naná Vasconcelos Storytelling". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 401.
- ^ Darling, Cary (December 24, 1995). "Our critics pick best, worst of '95". Orange County Register. p. F22.
- ^ Smith, Will (September 10, 1995). "The odd Brazilian jungle sounds of percussionist...". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 10.
- ^ McDonnell, Evelyn (November 24, 2002). "Tropical Triumph". Miami Herald. p. 1M.