Azul

Many an American musician has fallen under the sway of Brazil’s seductive rhythms and enticing melodies. But San Francisco pianist/composer Anne Sajdera has taken the romance a good deal deeper than many of her similarly besotted peers. Rather than simply exploring a program of beloved bossa novas, she has created Azul, a startling beautiful album that mixes her ravishing original pieces with classic tunes by Brazilian masters Ivan Lins, Egberto Gismonti, and Chico Pinheiro. After more than a decade performing with leading Bay Area Brazilian ensembles such as Phil Thompson’s Rio Thing and the California Music Award–winning band Bat Makumba, Sajdera steps forward with an impressive debut that leaves no doubt about her exquisite touch, rhythmic acuity, and melodic resourcefulness. Produced by Sajdera and guitarist Ray Obiedo, the album is built upon her dynamic trio with bassist Gary Brown and drummer Paul van Wageningen, well-traveled veterans who have performed and recorded with numerous heavyweights in jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian music. Drummer Phil Thompson takes over the kit on two tracks, and nearly every piece features percussion by either Michael Spiro or Airto Moreira, whose storied career encompasses classic sessions with Hermeto Pascoal, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and vocalist Flora Purim (Airto’s wife and longtime musical partner).