Obrigado Brasil!

Obrigado Brasil!—a nine track album of original sambas and bossa novas by award-winning Heritage Ensemble leader/pianist/composer Eugene Marlow—celebrates and pays homage to Brazilian musical culture that gave birth to the driving rhythms of the samba and the romantic feel of the bossa nova.

The album’s release follows the conclusion of the Summer 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and the anniversary of Brazil’s independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822.

Some highlights:

This album introduces young virtuoso pianist ArcoIris Sandoval who performs on Arco’s Arc (which she co-wrote with composer Eugene Marlow). She also performs on Novo Bossa (on the Rhodes keyboard), Flight II and Longing.

Mixing things up is a hybrid piece: Enigma which begins and ends in a classical vein with Virginia Chang Chien performing two coincident oboe lines. The bulk of the track is an improvisation on the chords by saxophonist Michael Hashim in a bossa nova style.

The album’s final track—Carnaval a Sanabria—is a multi-layer drum and percussion celebration of the samba improvised by multi-Grammy nominee Heritage Ensemble drummer Bobby Sanabria.

“The band indulges in the creation of bossa nova beauties, cooks with the sounds of samba rhythms, and delights in the opportunity to build bounding vehicles. . . . Saxophonist Michael Hashim’s rich horns lead the way in much of this music, and drummer-percussionist Bobby Sanabria provides the spark of life that drives things forward. . . . Obrigado Brasil! is a full-on embrace of Brazilian culture that serves as a thank-you card to the country that gave us samba, bossa nova, and so much more.”
─ Dan Bilawsky
JAZZed Magazine

“Swinging Brazilian-based works are on the original order of the day here. Solid work that highlights the musical trail from New York to the tropics, the gang really tears it up here on a smoking set that gets any party started in fine style. With a real feel for the mode at hand, Marlow and the gang are in touch with their inner “tropicalistas” and make you believe. Well done.”
─ Chris Spector
Midwest Record

Jazz radio station WBGO chose The Heritage Ensemble’s Obrigado Brasil! as a premium item for their fundraising drive.
─WBGO Jazz Radio 88.3
The most listened to jazz radio station on the planet

Title: Obrigado Brasil!
|Catalog #: A-1-2016

Release date: 2016
UPC: 686751315992
©2016 MEII Enterprises/BMI