Vanessa Falabella

CD Review: Vanessa Falabella (Brazil) “Yacht Rock N’ Bossa”

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Falabella MusicArtist: Vanessa Falabella
Title: Yacht Rock N’ Bossa
Label: Falabella Music
Format: CD and digital
Genre: Yacht Rock N’ Bossa

Those of you who are close to the MFM Circle, and readers of this publication, are no strangers to Vanessa Falabella. Born in Minas Gerais, Brazil (also the hometown of Milton Nascimento), Falabella has had an impressive career. She has recorded and performed with Gato Barbieri, Philippe Saisse, Sadao Watanabe, Cyro Baptista, Jason Miles, Will Lee, Eumir Deodato, Rick Braun, Marcus Viana, The Rain Forest Band, César Camargo Mariano,  Hiram Bullock, and EMI group project Criara with film score producers Frank Ferrucci and Scott Lehrer. Earlier this year, she appeared on Nu-Bossa Elixir by Future350, featuring the head of MFM’s Hudson Valley chapter Stephen Johnson. She’s also a proud member of MFM.

Her latest release, Yacht Rock N’ Bossa, which was produced and arranged by Marcelo Lima, is a well-executed collection of twenty beautifully written and produced songs. Yacht rock is a music style and aesthetic associated with soft rock or smooth jazz. It was one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

The collection opens with “Only a Dream in Rio.” The listener is immediately drawn into its mood of relaxed contentment deftly created by the flawless arrangements and Falabella’s effortlessly sympathetic vocals.

This is followed by a cover of the Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Here we have Falabella singing with only a guitar accompaniment. Her phrasing on this is very slightly ahead of the beat, which produces a contrasting mood from the original. There is something refreshingly raw and intimate about this performance.

A very late 80s / early 90s phase-shifted guitar and backbeat opens the next track, “Superstition.” Here, Falabella offers an interesting and unique interpretation of the Stevie Wonder classic. The track features a rap / spoken word performance by Michael S’uno, which draws even more new possibilities from the song.

“The Closer I get to You” is a duet with singer Marcelo Lima, with guitar accompaniment. The two vocalists have an easy and natural rapport and musical communication.

Falabella’s cover of Paul McCartney’s “My Love” is a very intimate performance accompanied by piano. There are moments where she lets loose more than usual and adds passionate ornamentation to the melody.

Yacht Rock N’ Bossa serves the specific purpose of chilling and enjoying quiet times. This is not a kind of music that makes drastic cerebral challenges or strong philosophical declarations. It is the highest quality of recreational music. Such music holds an essential place and serves a very important purpose. Falabella masterfully brings a sense of welcome to a musical and atmospheric retreat that we all need.