As the second Brazilian wave neared its crest,
Milton Nascimento signed with CBS and brought forth a typically eclectic offering, with contributions from familiar collaborators
Wagner Tiso,
Robertinho Silva,
Uakti, and some stellar North American admirers. The key coup of the record was
Nascimento's duet with
Paul Simon on the reflective "Dream Merchant" (he would later return the favor by appearing on
Simon's brilliant Brazilian/African
The Rhythm of the Saints album), with
Herbie Hancock on electronic layered keyboards. Keyboardist
Don Grusin, guitarist
Eric Gale and drummer
Alex Acuña turn up now and then, and
Hancock and old collaborator
Wayne Shorter almost -- but not quite -- take over "Mountain." The lovely "Heart Is My Master" is almost a lush throwback to his breakthrough in the bossa nova era -- and indeed, he revisits one of his early standards, "Morro Velho," in an affectingly lush production supervised by
Nascimento aficionado
Quincy Jones. "Letter to the Republic" is a measured, post-military-government, state-of-the-state address by
Nascimento to the Brazilian people, and the concluding "Songs and Moments" finds
Milton Nascimento again addressing his fans directly, explaining why he does what he does. ~ Richard S. Ginell