So many artists have tried to tackle Brazilian music in all its shapes and forms, from Bossa Nova to Samba and further on, particularly trying to tackle the works of such masters as Antônio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso, and Jorge Ben. And it was not only Brazilian artists, but those from all over the globe.
Rogê himself is something of a combination of all of the above. Guitarist, singer-songwriter, and prince of the Lapa nightlife scene (in the heart of Rio), he actually calls Los Angeles home but recorded Curyman as a combination of two production styles – Los Angeles as envisaged by funk/soul mastermind Thomas Brenneck, known for his work with Menahan Street Band, Amy Winehouse, as the producer/songwriter/guitarist for Charles Bradley, and Brazilian one, as envisaged by the Rio production master Arthur Verocai, himself an author of some brilliant albums.
The resulting album is no less than brilliant itself, with Rogê being in full form and both Brenneck and Verocai providing those touches that make each and every one of the elven songs here stand out.
The result is that Curyman will undoubtedly rank as one of this year’s better Brazilian music albums, if not more.
