Search - Mike Marshall :: Brasil: Duets

Bright, exciting Brazilian music on mandolin!

Volkert Volkersz | Snohomish, WA United States | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just discovered this amazing CD at our local library. Mike Marshall, a gifted mandolinist who has played with David Grisman, Montreux, the Modern Mandolin Quintet and numerous renowned acoustic musicians, teams up here with some of his virtuoso friends for exciting duets of Brazilian choro music.Choro has its roots in turn of the (twentieth) century Brazil "when immigrant musicians (European, folk and classical) blended their musical traditions with the African and indigenous rhythms of this fertile land" (from the liner notes). Here Marshall plays this music on his bright bluegrass mandolin, accompanied on various tracks by, among others, Bela Fleck on banjo, Edgar Meyer on string bass, and Michael Manring on two-handed tapping electric bass. These interpretations reflect the musical sensibilities of these gifted performers.This music is cheerful, rhythmic, crisp, and for the most part a nice acoustic jazz-classical blend. If you enjoy mandolin or Latin American music, this CD is worth a listen!"