Macunaísmo Tardio Vol 1 & 2

The story of jazz in Brazil is one of innovation, inclusivity and influence. Seeping into many of the country’s other musical genres, it has also been inspired in turn by the homegrown styles that developed in this great expanse. From samba, bossa nova and choro, and inspired by American jazz, came brazuca and various Brazilian forms of fusion. Hailing from the state of Minas Gerais (Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges began their careers here), Vinícius Mendes is a remarkable saxophonist, flautist, composer and improviser who between 2021 and 2022 created two volumes of beautifully performed instrumental jazz under the title of Macunaísmo Tardio. Released together on German label Sonar Kollektiv’s sub-label Notes On A Journey, this collection contains impressive originals from Mendes as well as exquisite new arrangements of Brazilian classics by Lucca Noacco (‘Variações’) and Toninho Horta, his outstanding version of Joyce Moreno’s much loved ‘Aldeia de Ogum’ an album highlight. Immersed in the Belo Horizonte samba scene, among the graceful bossa-tinged numbers present, Mendes never strays far from the irresistible rhythms of percussive samba, tracks like ‘Mineiro’ held together by agogô bells as Mendes draws melodies from the sky. This record is a definite mood-lifter.