Joe Davis from Far Out Recordings has unearthed another Brazilian gem. Vuvuzela tooters know José Roberto Bertrami as a keyboard player with the sugar loafers of Azymuth – for years, »Ze« Bertrami could be found behind the keyboards filling the jazz with fusion. Only Discogs sharks knew that this musician from São Paulo himself ›crooned‹ like Bill Evans in an earlier life! In 66, at the tender age of 19 and years before Azymuth was founded, he recorded his first disc. In a modest jazzy style à la his José Roberto Trio, Bertrami sands out the septet chords on the piano so that you are overcome by gentle madness. His brother Claudio twirls his fingers over the bass. Sex on the Beach sucks in comparison. And cool jazz is just a transfiguration for people who march into the five-star lounge wearing a pair of Speedos. »José Roberto Trio« is a Copacabanan declaration of love to Miles Davis, a sunset greeting to Evans, a tribute to Oscar Peterson. The trio interpreted compositions from Marcos Valle and Baden Powell, but also played Bertrami’s own stuff like the staccato monster »Lilos Walts« or the bongo funk on »Kebar«. If you’re looking for the right record for summer Sundays, you’ll find this a treat!
Hermeto Pascoal e Grupo
Planetário da Gávea
Far Out