AMG Review of Na Esquina

Alvaro Neder
All Music Guide

Continuing the project begun in 1997 with his son Francisco Bosco, this album by João Bosco also has Francisco as the only lyricist (except in the versions for other composers' songs) but brings a more careful melodic work by João, who fortunately got rid of obstruent keyboards and adopted acoustic orchestral sections instead. Keeping one eye in the market and the other on his own deeply Brazilian style, the result is sometimes diffuse with the inclusion of reggae ("Mama Palavra"), world music, romantic ballad ("Dia de Festa"), jazzy Caribbean grooves ("Beirando A Rumba"), and other styles. The album has good moments in the influences of baião and Minas Gerais folklore of "Na Esquina," in the samba "Doce Sereia," in "Beirando A Rumba," and in the coco/rap "Ditodos." Francisco shows inspired moments, but he needs to sharpen his writing skills.