BOLERIO -LTD/HQ-

"Galvanised by a passion for soul, jazz, funk, folk, and Brazilian samba, Judith RavitzAEs Bolerio (in Hebrew, Yehudit Ravitz u ' ) brilliantly reimagines the music of the Brazilian legend Jorge Ben. Increasingly sought-after, housing as it does her seminal take on oDia De Indioo u often re-edited and sampled, bootlegged but never bettered u itAEs a uniquely thrilling LP in its own right. The year is 1983, and Ravitz discovered that Jorge Ben was touring Israel with his crack backing band A Banda Do ZU Pretinho. After joining her in the studio, the ensemble reinvented a selection of BenAEs killer tracks that the band regularly performed. On Bolerio u ocome to Rioo - Ravitz handed them equal billing as they aided a recontextualization of BenAEs music for an audience that was barely aware of him.'These versions are by no means straight re-treads. Far from it. The highlights are many and memorable. The aforementioned oDia De Indioo, a strutting, electronic samba-funk with stabbing bass and fluid arrangements, sounds so current and fresh that itAEs hard to believe itAEs now 35 years old. Its vibrant ambience has been likened to the wiry dubbiness of King Sunny AdeAEs Synchro System and itAEs easy to see why. Indeed, the electro elements add a futuristic feel that the original could never comfortably possess. Undeniably rocking more furiously than BenAEs versions, the album begins with a throbbing take on oBoiadeiroo, the opener from BenAEs Salve Simpatia. Ravitz flows wonderfully whilst the band get busy, introducing a heaviness and complexity absent from the original, as wild bass blends with an intensity to the guitar playing thatAEs quite stunning. RavitzAEs cover of the infamous oTaj Mahalo incorporates the lush Brazilian boogie of the time whilst oSanta Clarao, already a standout from Bem Vinda Amizade, is morphed into a deep electronic groove. Lent an airiness by this arrangement, the track benefits from RavitzAEs exquisite range and floats by on a bed of warm keys to conjure a gorgeous melodic melancholy throughout. The timeless oQue Penao from BenAEs classic self-titled LP, released in 1969, gets an injection of warm Israeli funk that eschews the downbeat vibe of the original. Led by an electric piano, A Banda Do ZU Pretinho elevate the track and turn it into a weighty samba boogie. So substantial is this take, it effectively renders BenAEs version to that of a bare bones sketch. Equally, the beautifully mournful piano and plaintive horns that grace oQue Maravilhao, coupled with RavitzAEs vocal phrasing of spine-tingling clarity, contribute a depth of feeling and longing that hit hard.