Curyman II

‘Curyman’, the opening track of Rogê’s (Roger José Cury) follow-up, revisits the final, brief ‘O Vento’ from 2023’s Curyman (reviewed in #187), thus cutely updating a winning formula: enhancing this LA-based expatriate Brazilian’s underlying songwriting talents with the opulent strings of legendary arranger Arthur Verocai (on roughly half the tracks) and a signature retro-modern production by The Budos Band’s Thomas Brenneck. Curyman II again combines rhythmic numbers, like ‘100% Samba’, which recall the samba-funk of Jorge Ben, with more contemplative numbers, like the aforesaid opener or ‘A Lenda Do Abaeté’, either way instilling a sense of refreshed tropicália. It’s no accident that there’s a glorious remake of João Donato’s classic from 1973, ‘A Rã’ (The Frog). Verocai’s signature is particularly clear on the instrumental ‘Old Diamond West’ and the ravishing closer, ‘Vida Voa’. If one can classify Rogê’s work as Música Popular Brasileira, it’s MPB of the highest order.