The latest recording released by Chico Saraiva, in 2016, Galope (Borandá) reaffirms the composer’s free flow between the song and the instrumental guitar. After four records, the music atmosphere without voices returns in this encounter between Chico and the very talented guitar-player, Daniel Murray.
This recording crowns the activities of Duo Saraiva-Murray that have been performing since 2009. Composed of ten tracks, eight are Chico Saraiva’s compositions and two are homage to masters that both guitarists admire: Villa-Lobos (“Veleiros”) and Guinga (“Di Menor”).
Naturally, the CD links the language of erudite technique with that of the popular modality that visits different regions, genres, and landscapes. Pulsing, in full gallop. The production is Paulo Bellinati’s again – a reference and fundamental partner.
It registers the encounter of two great guitar-players representing the Brazilian guitar who achieve excellence in every melody, rhythm, harmony, and improvisation.
“The Brazilian guitar has significantly matured over the last 20 or 30 years; it has gained new colors, new interprets, and creators. We can categorically affirm nowadays that the guitar expresses the best that there is in the Brazilian instrumental music.
Over the last decades, the strong presences of guitar-players such as Raphael Rabelo, Egberto Gismonti, João Bosco, and Guinga, among others, have helped pave the way for a generation of new creators. Talented Chico Saraiva joins forces with Daniel Murray to present us with a magnificent CD almost entirely authorial where imagination and inspiration are fecund.
Our traditional genres, like the samba, baião, waltz, modinha and choro, are revisited with eloquent versatility, harmonic sophistication, and great melodic inspiration. From the pulsing “Galope” to the captivating “Três tardes de lua”, passing by the elite “Coco”, the electrifying “Martelo”, and the funny “Saraivada” – among other beautiful themes – the two artists weave a tapestry that unites the northern and southern parts of the country, with some brazilness that makes us astonished and proud.”
Sérgio Assad
“The guitar duo reveals the essence of those compositions in a completely transparent manner. Even though many of them are songs in their origin, this guitar version shows each piece in a different nature, a deeper incursion into the soul of the melodies created by Chico Saraiva.
Here, in the arrangements created by the duo, everything is equally valued: solos, harmonies, improvisations, and counterpoints appear very well dosed – each event at its time and place, resulting in a captivating sonority. The CD “Galope”, by Duo Saraiva-Murray is without any doubt a unique contribution to the Brazilian guitar repertoire.
Paulo Bellinati