Laura Dreyer - Vida. Arte. Amor (2014)

Life, art, and love are all intertwined in the latest work from multi-instrumentalist Laura Dreyer—a fourteen song collection that finds her plying her trade in Brazilian-based settings and contemporary scenes.

For this album, Dreyer went the wholly authentic route, traveling to Brazil to record in Rio De Janiero. The music that was born in that sunny locale—a fusion of Brazilian musical languages, funk, rock, smooth jazz, and more—speaks to Dreyer's diverse interests; it also speaks to her knack for spinning out catchy and uncomplicated melodies. You don't need extensive music theory training or a music degree to appreciate her catchy and artful saxophone melodies ("Caminhos Novos") or her pleasing and peppy flute strains ("Ping Pong"). She's a musical straight-shooter who understands the value in a memorable melody.

Dreyer wrote the majority of the music for this project, delivering everything from gently coasting, vocal-shaped beauties ("Perdendo Voce"), to sunny flute frolicking ("A Somba Se Foi"), to lively saxophone jaunts ("O Outro Lado Do Seu Amor"). She comfortably finds her way through it all, but she's truly at her best when she's able to simply soar, untethered to arrangement, vocalist, or instrumental partner. She occasionally plays things a bit too mellow and safe, traveling overly sedate highways and plainly smoothed avenues, but she manages to charm and disarm where it counts.

Vida. Arte. Amor. isn't a bold statement, a power play, or a grandstanding affair. It's simply an expression of joy, lovingly delivered by the talented Laura Dreyer. By DAN BILAWSKY

Tracklist:

01. Caminhos Novos (4:54)
02. Beauty & The Beast (6:19)
03. Ping Pong (5:52)
04. Vale La Pena El Placer (Portuguese Version) (4:46)
05. Beijo Do Sol (Rio Version) (5:45)
06. Spring St (5:25)
07. Vale La Pena El Placer (4:00)
08. O Outro Lado Do Seu Amor (4:30)
09. Perdendo Voce (5:25)
10. A Sombra Se Foi (5:21)
11. Until Daybreak (6:25)
12. Arcade (7:21)
13. A Dança Dos Cachorros (6:13)
14. Perdiendote (5:34)

Personnel:

Laura Dreyer: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, alto flute;
Itamar Assiere: piano;
Davy Mooney: guitar (6, 10, 12);
Bernardo Bososio: guitar (2, 4, 7);
Jefferson Lescowich: bass;
Marcio Amaro: drums;
Mila Schiavo: percussion;
Aldivas Ayres: trombone;
Debora Watts: vocals;
Karen Rodriguez: vocals (7, 14);
Teri Koide: vocals (11).