(Smooth Jazz, Latin Jazz) [LP] [16/44] Moacir Santos - Saudade - 1974, FLAC (tracks)

Ripped original US press in VG+ condition, ran through ClickRepair suite, converted to level 8 flac.
Technics 1200 MK5 Turntable with Goldmund Relief Mat and Cork Mat
Shure M97xE Cartridge, Generic Aluminum Audiophile Headshell
ART USB Phono Plus Interface Stage/ADC

Moacir Santos is a Brazilian composer, arranger and saxophonist from the first team of Brazilian Jazz. He's one of those artists who are underrated by the big audiences but widely known by those who appreciate inspiration, beauty, intelligence when applicable to music composition and arrangement.
This is the second of his three albums for Blue Note Records, a long time awaited for reissue. Catalog number was BN-LA260-G, recorded in New York, 1974. A natural follower to the first `The Maestro' (from 1972), also a memorable album with the unique Santos' way of doing the thing what includes an intricate shape of samba, an uncommon way of dividing that is unique in his compositions, a kind of registered mark which identifies Santos.
"Saudade" was recorded by an all-star Jazz team with arrangements by Moacir Santos (except for one track arranged by Mark Levine, the pianist for all the tracks). The dream team includes the late Jerome Richardson (with a brilliant flute solo in `Kathy'), Ray Pizzi on tenor sax, bassoon and flute (with beautiful flute and piccolo lines in `The City of LA' and bassoon line in `Suk Cha'), Lee Ritenour on guitar, and Harvey Mason on drums.
Some vocals show up in some tracks what includes some Mr. Santos singing solos along with a four-member vocal group. All sung in English with some exception partly sung in Portuguese too like `Haply-Hap'.
`A Saudade Mata a Gente' is a traditional Brazilian folk song with a Santos' sensational arrangement which gives way for brilliant solos by Pizzi and by trumpeter Steve Huffsteter.
You'll find top quality amusement in the exotic arrangements for instrumental lines in virtually all tracks but specially `A Saudade Mata a Gente', `The City of LA', `Suk-Cha', `Kathy', and `Amphibious',
Program ends with a beautiful song `What's My Name' with a different beat and with vocals by Mike Campbell and Moacir Santos.
All original compositions by Mr. Santos except `A Saudade Mata a Gente' (typed differently in the album cover with a wrong double `t').
A must-have.
-- Carlos from Rio

Moacir Santos - alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
Steve Huffsteter - trumpet, flugelhorn
Benny Powell - trombone
Morris Repass - bass trombone
Sidney Muldrow - French horn
Ray Pizzi - bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo
Jerome Richardson - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, alto flute
Mark Levine - piano, electric piano
Lee Ritenour - guitar, electric guitar
John Heard - bass, electric bass
Harvey Mason - drums
Mayuto Correa, Carmelo Garcia - congas, percussion
Donald Alves, Mike Campbell, Jose Marino, Petsye Powell, Carmen Saveiros, Regina Werneck - backing vocals
Recorded at United Artists Studios, West Hollywood, CA on March 5, 6 & 12, 1974.