Artist: Franco Cerri Album: Bossa Nova

Year: 2009
Duration: 0:0-1

Bossa Nova Album by Franco Cerri Reviewed: An Instrumental Journey in Brazilian Music

Have you ever heard of the Bossa Nova genre? Bossa Nova is a Brazilian music genre that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is a blend of samba rhythms and jazz harmonies with a light and relaxed feel. One of the best Jazz guitarists who ventured into Bossa Nova is Franco Cerri. In this blog, we will be reviewing his 1962 album, Bossa Nova, which showcased his brilliance in this music genre. From Cerri's background to the album's best songs, this blog will take you through a journey into the Bossa Nova world.

Franco Cerri is a renowned Italian Jazz guitarist and bassist who began his musical journey in the early 1950s. He played with Italian jazz musicians like Gorni Kramer, Lelio Luttazzi, and Tony Scott. Cerri was the first Italian Jazz guitarist who transported Italian Jazz to Europe and South America and became interested in Bossa Nova in the early 1960s when it was introduced in Italy. The album introduced his instrumental journey to the Brazilian music genre.

The Bossa Nova album features ten tracks, including songs composed by renowned Brazilian composers João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and Luiz Bonfá. The album starts with a lovely track, Aguas de Marco, with a soothing acoustic guitar played by Cerri. It sets the relaxed mood of the whole album. Another standout track is Samba de Orfeu, a classic tune from the movie Black Orpheus, with a livelier rhythm and beautiful guitar solos. Franco Cerri's guitar work is prominent throughout the whole album, and it proves his brilliance in Bossa Nova.

The most innovative aspect of this album is the way it highlights Cerri's style of playing Bossa Nova's music with an Italian twist. Cerri added his personal touch to the Brazilian music genre, and it is clearly noticeable throughout the album. In the track, Corcovado, Cerri played an electric guitar solo, which was uncommon in Bossa Nova but added a beautiful dimension to the song. The album also exhibits diverse elements of jazz, which is integrated smoothly with Bossa Nova and enhances the listening experience.

As much as the album is an instrumental gem, it has some shortcomings. Firstly, the album's sound production could have been better. The low production quality makes it difficult to appreciate the guitar work fully. Secondly, the album focuses only on instrumentals, which could be monotonous for some. The lack of variety in vocals can be tiring even for Bossa Nova enthusiasts.

In summary, Franco Cerri's Bossa Nova Album is an instrumental masterpiece that enhances the beauty of Brazilian music. The album is a testament to Cerri's versatility as a Jazz guitarist, showcasing his personal touch in the Brazilian music genre. The album's sound production may not be impressive, but it doesn't dilute the album's intrinsic beauty. The album is not perfect in terms of variety, but every track in the album is worth a listen. Overall, Bossa Nova is a timeless album that will always appeal to music enthusiasts who appreciate great instrumental works.