I occasionally like a touch of soul, funk, and jazz but can`t say i`m well versed in this genre of music.
I recently came across a Brazilian rock, soul, funk, and jazz musician called Eduardo “Ed” Motta who was referred to as the “Colossus of Rio”. Ed releases his fourteenth album `Behind The Tea Chronicles` this month, after a break of five years which takes us on a journey, crossing musical borders and inviting us to listen not only to groovy soulful songs but also to dive into almost cinematic moods.
The album opens with `Newsroom Customers` and it`s a dreamy soulful almost introspective reflection on life changes with some orchestrated strings sprinkled throughout. We head out on a journey with `Slumberland` which begins with harp-like tones and synths before swaying between a faster pace and a much more laid-back meditative vibe with some sweet backing vocals.
`Safely Far` has a captivating bass line leading us along as Ed sprinkles his soothing vocal shades atop a funky earworm of a track. There`s a kind of late-night romantic feel to `Gaslighting Nancy` although the title would suggest otherwise. It had, for me, that sophisticated jazzy texture that Steely Dan perfected when they put their mind to it.
`Of Good Strain` is a real curve ball with a kind of off kilter waltz like quality about it , a short and fairly whimsical piece. I was left musing on the jazz fusion supergroup Return To Forever when listening to the studious `Quatermass Has Told Us` although it became a little out there with occasional modulated voice fragments on route over some classy solo musicianship.
`Buddy Longway` at only fifty-nine seconds was far too short for me, a brief but wonderfully captivating deviation that had Ed`s understated vocals shared over an acoustic backdrop which included a resonator guitar soundscape. It would appear an incident in a park near where the narrator was staying inspired the jazz funk like `Shot In The Park`.
`Deluxe Refuge` I thought, had a Bossa nova dance like beat and really makes you want to get up and shape a few moves, regardless of the success of such a rash action. There were some delicious percussive and brass segments shared as the track progressed. We enjoy another laid back late night / night club r&b / jazzlike submission with `Tolerance On High Street` which allows enticing snatches of double bass, brass, and brushed drum to be shared as the number evolves.
The album closes out with `Confrere`s Exile` an expansive stripped back composition with piano and vocal that really allows us to appreciate the depth of this singer`s vocal range. There`s a real intensity almost heartbreak about this piece and no better a number to leave us on.
`Behind The Tea Chronicles` is a really interesting and thoroughly enjoyable listen and Ed Motta has an exceptional vocal range, which brought to mind singers like the late great Luther Vandross. After listening to Ed Motta, I can understand why he has worked with such diverse artists such as Cassiano, Roy Ayers, 4 Hero, Seu Jorge, Eliane Elias, Incognito, Bo Diddley and Ryuichi Sakamoto amongst others.
Ed Motta is a kind of undiscovered treasure, and I can only hope that `Behind The Tea Chronicles` will bring this artist some long overdue recognition.
Rating 8.5 /10
REVIEW: ED MOTTA – BEHIND THE TEA CHRONICLES (2023)
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