Neither the seven-string guitarist nor his musical partner
Hamilton de Holanda (ten-string mandolin) play conventional instruments, but they're complete masters of what they do, as this live disc shows. Their take on Brazilian music is inspired by some of the country's greatest artists, a modern version of the samba tradition expressed with breathtaking virtuosity (just listen to the staggeringly demanding middle section of "Chamamé" to understand the challenges of the compositions). They're a natural pairing, working symbiotically together, switching perfectly naturally from lead to supporting roles to the point where it can be hard to tell which instrument is which. The precision and clarity of the live recording is astonishing, and the applause of the audience at the end of each piece can come as a shock. Although they can impress with their speed, they give great depth of emotion to slower pieces like "Light of Dawn" with its soft impressionism, and
de Holanda's mastery of the mandolin is evident. Where they stretch out, as they do with two of the pieces here, they have the chance to show their stuff with lengthy improvisations, trading phrases, pushing each other further and further with real joy. It's an album to satisfy not only lovers of Brazilian music, but also those who revel in true Brazilian instrumental genius. ~ Chris Nickson