AMG Review of Nos Bares Da Vida

Alvaro Neder
All Music Guide

Alcione, a competent samba singer who has dedicated most of her commercial career to singing romantic samba tunes, brings a diverse approach to this 2000 release. The title, Nos Bares da Vida (in the bars of life) is a reference to Milton Nascimento's song where he addresses the contemporary musician gig. Alcione retains the concept but talks of a previous generation. In other words, the repertory interpreted and the atmosphere evoked have nothing to do with a more current Brazilian bar, but with a 1960/1970 nightclub. The concept serves to gather distinctive styles in the same basket, like bossa nova ("Este Seu Olhar," "Última Forma," "Ilusão à Toa," "A Noite do Meu Bem"), samba-canção ("Pra Machucar Meu Coração," "Nossos Momentos," "Não Me Diga Adeus," "Pois É," "Obsessão"), samba ("O Poder da Criação," "A Flor e o Espinho," "Me Deixa Em Paz"), fossa ("Ronda," "Bar da Noite," "Nesse Mesmo Lugar," "Tudo Acabado"), Northeastern music ("Lamento Sertanejo," "Pisa Na Fulô"), and, classic of classics, the hors-concours "Carinhoso." Backed by João Lyra's violão and light percussion, the show, recorded live in April at ~the Garden Hall, also has Márcio Montarroyos (trumpet), Cristóvão Bastos (piano), Dori Caymmi (violão), Rildo Hora (harmonica), and Vittor Santos (trombone) -- no bass. A delicious album, a refreshment for electronics-cluttered times.