Personnel:
Thiago De Mello (g, perc, vcl), Dom Salvador, Richard Kimball (p), Bob Rose (g), Herb Bushler, Don Payne, Bob Dougherty (b), Airto Moreira, Portinho, Richard Crooks (d, perc), Claudio Roditi (tp), Paulo Moura (as, ss), Lloyd McNeill (fl), Michelle Brourman, Tony de Maio, Kay Coleman (vcl)
Reference: UBCD 507
Bar code: 8427328125079
Tracklisting:
01. Andei So Por Andar (Time For A Change) 2:41
02. Amanhecer (The Dawn) 1:33
03. Boat Song 2:40
04. Vou-Me Embora (I'm Leavin') 2:46
05. Rede De Caboclo (The Indian's Hammock) 3:15
06. Tanta Ternura (So Much Tenderness) 3:43
07. Don't Turn Away 2:58
08. Amadeste (Desert Song) 9:26
09. Blue Sky 3:16
10. Freedom 6:07
Total time: 38:44 min.
All songs composed by Thiago de Mello
All lyrics by Thiago de Mello, except #7 by Karen Gottlieb, #8 by Amadeu & Gaudencio Thiago de Mello (#8) and #9 by Douglas Worth.
Personnel:
Thiago de Mello (g, perc, vcl); Dom Salvador, Richard Kimball (p); Bob Rose (g); Herb Bushler, Don Payne, Bob Dougherty (b); Airto Moreira, Portinho, Richard Crooks (d, perc); Claudio Roditi (tp); Paulo Moura (as, ss); Lloyd McNeill (fl); Michelle Brourman, Tony de Maio, Kay Coleman (vcl). Arrangements by Thiago de Mello & Richard Kimball
Recorded & mixed by George Klabin at Sound Ideas Studios in in New York, January 1973
24-Bit Digital Remastering by Rodrigo Lopes at Visom Studios, Rio de Janeiro, 1999
Reissue produced by Arnaldo de Souteiro for Jazz Station Records
Associate producer: Thiago de Mello
Project coordinator: Andrea Orgam
Cover painting: Carlos Pingarilho
Back cover photo: Celso Brando
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Review:
"For many years, it seemed most unlikely that Thiago de Mello's debut album and 1973 recording, Amazon would ever be reissued on CD. Only 1000 copies of the original vinyl LP were pressed back in 1973, and the master tape was destroyed in a fire. But where there is a will, there is sometimes a way. Brazilian producer Arnaldo de Souteiro had a copy of the LP that was still in good condition, and in 1999, he used digital technology to restore the recording; the result was a new CD version of Amazon that, although not ideal by audiophile standards, still sounds enjoyably good.
On Amazon, de Mello is joined by an impressive cast of Brazilian and American players that includes, among others, Airto Moreira on drums and percussion, Claudio Roditi on trumpet, Paulo Moura on alto and soprano sax, Richard Kimball on piano, and Herb Bushler on bass. De Mello, who arranged the material with Kimball, is heard on acoustic guitar, percussion and vocals; on top of that, he composed all of the melodies, although some of the lyrics were written by others. Amazon contains its share of instrumentals, which include the vibrant "Amanhecer (The Dawn)," the good-natured "Rede de Caboclo," and the optimistic "Freedom." But vocals are also a high priority on this 38-minute disc, and they range from de Mello's performances in Portuguese on "Vou-Me Emboura (I'm Leavin'")," "Tanta Ternura (So Much Tenderness)," "Andei So Por Andar (Time for a Change)." and the haunting "Amadeste (Desert Song)" to singer Michelle Brourman's performances in English on "Blue Sky" and "Don't Turn Away." De Souteiro's digital restoration of Amazon in 1999 was a pleasant and totally unexpected surprise, and fans of Brazilian jazz and Brazilian pop will find a lot to enjoy on de Mello's very first album."
Alex Henderson -All Music Guide
