John Finbury is a Yank pianist and songwriter whose compositions sound as if they had been written by one of the great MPB (Popular Brazilian Music) composers. Sorte! (Luck) (Green Flash Music) features the definition of an all-star rhythm section—bassist John Patitucci, guitarist Chico Pinheiro, drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, and percussionist Airto Moreira, among others—with the arresting vocals of Thalma De Freitas. The singer mixes a lowkey approach and soft, pure vocal tones with an occasional surge of emotion. Go no further than the title track, where at times she sounds remarkably like vintage Elis Regina. This is the kind of Indi-label project that can get lost in the barrage of new releases. A strong suggestion: Don’t let this one get away.
Mark Holston, All About Jazz – Back To Brazil: Part Two