From All About Jazz
For the Moment Marco de Carvalho | OA2 Records
Quick and to the Point: An hour-plus chilled Brazilian jazz affair.
Brazilian guitarist Marco de Carvalho lays back on For the Moment,
where he dwells almost exclusively in mounting relaxed grooves
suffused with the endemic melodic tropical sensuousness so characteristic
of his native country. Carvalho’s slow and mid tempo compositions rely on
the sweetness of guitar and flute, with barely dressed arrangements exposing much
classically-toned-jazzy skin without recurring to bare and smooth nakedness
–with the exception of the coolly tempered swing of “Fim De Ano,” the leisurely “Já,”
and the engaging “Follow the Feeling”–featuring exquisite interplay between Carvalho,
saxist and clarinetist Hans Teuber, and cellist Lori Goldston. Drum and guitar duos are
featured on the beachy “Laid Back” and the brainier “Certeza.” “No Past Tense”
is a flute and guitar duo firmly rooted in classical aesthetics, attesting to Carvalho’s
education and craft in that field.
As a guitar player Carvalho is cliché-free, non-flamboyant, and mature, with firm fingering,
economical strumming, wealthy economic ideas and chords, and an understated
yet firm sound. His compositions and arrangements, as well as the support
of the other musicians involved, manage musical depth and expressiveness
quite well; small group playing of this kind requires restraint, healthy breathing, and
the capacity to say a lot with precious few notes. That and more the Carvalhistas do…
~ Javier Antonio Quiñones Ortiz
From Artist Direct
An album of light Brazilian jazz from Rio-based composer/guitarist Marco de Carvalho,
now living in Seattle. The mood is thoroughly laid back (as the third track will
confirm), with Carvalho's light guitar work dominating the proceedings and some soft
drumming from Tad Britton and Daniel Carvalho laying the rhythm at the base of the
compositions. The backing musicians are a collection of Seattleites and Brazilians,
with horn-work coming from Seattle's Hans Teuber and the lighter wind coming from
master flautist Lucas Robatto out of Rio. While Carvalho is constantly reminiscent of
the days of Gilberto's samba, he is never trying to emulate the sound entirely. It's
his own take on the basic framework of samba, with the guitar always standing as the
worthy centerpiece. While jazz has moved forward from the samba days to a degree,
this is a welcome return, making for some excellent lazy Sunday afternoon music.
Pick it up for two reasons: the first being Carvalho's exceptional guitar ability as he
picks carefully through the scales to fit the pieces, and the second being as an
outstanding example of a contemporary piece of mood music, with the album making a
coherent album to sit in the background of the end of a day easily.
~ Adam Greenberg
From Mark Quint's album "Principle of Uncertainty"
The musical content of The Principle of Uncertainty is superb as well. Combining sounds of Jazz,
R and B,Soul and Brazilian music, Quint’s arrangements in collaboration with guitarist and
percussionist Marco de Carvalho feature a very tasteful palette of sounds to accompany
Quint’s subdued and mellow vocals. There is very good solo work by de Carvalho,....
~Craig W. Hurst / Jazz Review
An interesting mix on this disc....some smooth...great guitar...and cooool vocals....
~Vince Outlaw-The New Jazz Thing 88.3 San Diego
While not the focus of attention, de Carvalho does an excellent job backing on guitar
(especially during the samba-esque portions).....
~Adam Greenberg / All Music Guide
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