The Brazilian jazz of mandolinist
Hamilton de Holanda and pianist
Andre Mehmari is a technically splendid thing, with plenty of stunning and virtuosic playing on pieces by classic Brazilian composers and more, including a few self-penned cuts. From the get-go, it sparkles with plenty of uptempo cuts that prove demanding on the duo, although
de Holanda and
Mehmari are more than up to the challenge posed by "Rose," for instance. It's impossible for them not to give a sense of swing and jazz to the music; it's in their blood, and when they do cool off a little, as with "The Dream," it's still there, underlying the softer music. It's even there in their version of
Andrea Morricone's "Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso." The album is as accomplished as you'd expect from two very professional musicians, but what gives even greater insight is the addition of three tracks taken from their first rehearsal, all of which appear in more polished form on the CD. But even when starting out together, there's a fire between them, and both are skilled enough to make the music shine. ~ Chris Nickson