Fina Estampa

AMG Review of Fina Estampa

Alvaro Neder
All Music Guide

In his 26th album, devoted to the Hispanic market that quickly reached the Latin Top Ten at Tower, Veloso sings great classics and new songs in Spanish, several recalled from his childhood; among them are boleros, rumbas, guarânias, and cançőes of Cuba ("Rumba Azul," "Contigo en la Distancia," "Maria la O," "Mi Cocodrilo Verde"), Argentina ("Un Vestido y un Amor," "Vete de Mi," Piazzolla's "Vuelvo Al Sur," and "Pecado," the latter two in bossa style), Mexico ("Maria Bonita," "La Golondrina"), Paraguay ("Recuerdos de Ypacarai"), Peru ("Fina Estampa"), Puerto Rico ("Capullito de Aleli," "Lamento Borincano"), and Venezuela ("Tonada de Luna Llena"). A sensitive, delicate acoustic release in which Veloso's precious vocal interpretations (without vibrato) are backed by string, wood, cello, and rhythmic sections. The instrumental arrangements (by Jaques Morelenbaum) are based less in the fundamental orchestrations of the '40s and are more erudite. This studio album was so successful in terms of critics and selling that it yielded a live show from which was recorded a live album, Fina Estampa Ao Vivo.