Search - Bola Sete :: Ocean Memories

A great tribue to a great artist

Rick Banales | Los Angeles, CA | 08/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bola Sete (real name Djalma de Andrade) was one of the pioneers of "World Music". In his earlier albums, he played with groups in much more of a jazz-bossa nova vein. This album is a solo guitar instrumental masterpiece that is much more exploratory, meditative, and intense than anything he did previously with Vince Guaraldi. Imagine an artist with the imagination of John Fahey, the intensity of John Coltrane, the lyricism of Milton Nascimento and the sheer virtuosity of Paco de Lucia and you are getting close. Bola Sete was an inspiration to artists as diverse as Fahey, Carlos Santana, and George Winston. His music encompasses such diverse forms as Jazz, Brazilian folk music, Classical, and Flamenco, but it all ends up sounding as individual and singular as Bola Sete really was. Part of this two CD set was available on vinyl at one point thru Windham Hill. I am very glad that this album is now available with all the wonderful music from this session.I would like to thank Anne Sete for being instrumental in getting this music out. This is a great gift to us all and a wonderful tribute to one of the great musicians."

Pretty stuff, but with a bite...

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 10/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This groovy independent re-release of Bola Sete's 1975 album, "Ocean" includes a complete CD's worth of extra, previously unissued material. Solo acoustic guitar seldom sounded so great, as he revisits and refashions classic Brazilian themes and energetically plunges through several flamenco-based tunes. Originally recorded for the Takoma label, these tunes bear the distictive stamp of John Fahey's production style: the muscular Spanish classical style is quietly subverted by gentle cascades of echo and velvet-toned reverb, while in the softer passages, layer upon layer of melody and rhythm are allowed to build up and well over. At times, the contrast between the ethereal bossa nova tunes and the more aggressive flamenco tracks may be a little disconcerting; it's not as relaxing as you might have thought going into it. But it is dazzling and hyponotic -- once you get into the flow of this album, it rewards you handsomely. The "new" material on Disc Two is particularly nice. Recommended!"

Numinous and Vivid Masterpiece

Mothking | Kansas City, KS | 01/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I gave Bola Sete's Tour of Force 5 stars. This CD is worlds above it. The range Sete crosses on the 19 tracks is astounding. It is a work of beauty encompassing a myriad of influences including folk, bossa nova, jazz, flamenco, and classical guitar blending together into his own inimitable style. It is very much mood music but the moods it creates are vast and complex; more like murals than paintings. There are no happy songs are sad songs but rather interwoven emotions. Sete's virtuosity is mesmerizing, exhilerating. It is not challenging to listen to. It is impressionistic as if Debussey had been born a Latin guitarist. Listening to him play is a religious experience."