First Play: Sammy Figueroa and Glaucia Nasser, Talisman
Sammy Figueroa is an extremely creative Latin jazz percussionist who has worked with everyone from Miles Davis to Mariah Carey. Glaucia Nasser is a noted Brazilian singer. The two met one evening when Nasser appeared at a concert in Miami; Figueroa was there as a fan of the opening act, but when he heard Nasser he was hooked.
The outcome of that chance encounter is Talisman, out today on Savant Records. The album brings the best of both worlds together beautifully, with Nasser's soaring vocals anchored by Figueroa's flirty percussive rhythms.
It's unusual for a record to feature both percussion and voice in equal measure but this is where Talisman succeeds. From the opening track, "Quando Eu Canto," right to the end, the record finds precisely the right balance and leaves the listener wanting more — of both musicians.
Talisman might have been the result of a happy accident, but let's hope there are more deliberate collaborations between these two in the future.
Tracklist:
1. "Quando Eu Canto"
2. "Encontro"
3. "E Quando Quero"
4. "Talisma"
5. "Iluaye"
6. "Abrigo"
7. "Um Olhar De Fora"
8. "Passos"
9. "Boca De Siri"