Bringing two distinctive voices together into a new musical setting can provide a wide spectrum of results, ranging from massively inspiring to sorely lacking. The combination of divergent influences certainly holds vast possibilities, offering collaborative artists new perspectives upon their own musical backgrounds. The possibilities don’t just arise from thin air though; artists need to have the humility and experience to see them. They need to make concessions within their own art and offer ideas for expansion in the work of other musicians. It’s a give and take that’s not possible for every musician; it’s certainly a process that’s worth the effort though, potentially providing amazing new artistic ventures.
Percussionist Sammy Figueroa and Brazilian vocalist Glaucia Nasser recently brought their two worlds together on an impressive new recording entitled Talisman. While both musicians come from different backgrounds, this combination wasn’t too much of a stretch – Figueroa has spent his career adding percussion colors to a number of different settings and Nasser is an experienced vocalist. Figueroa has some serious Latin, jazz, and funk credentials, having played alongside Miles Davis, The Brecker Brothers, The Average White Band, Paquito D’Rivera, and many others, as well as leading his own group. Raised in Brazil, Nasser has dedicated her life to Brazilian song, resulting in four recordings and concerts around the world. Coming together through a mutual admiration, the two musicians saw vast potential in Figueroa’s rhythmic vocabulary and Nasser’s beautiful vocal quality. With the potential to see vast musical possibilities, Figueroa and Nasser found a new artistic world through their interaction that creatively drew upon their past experience.
Talisman certainly contains a wealth of fascinating music, that reflects a liberal sharing of ideas, brought together by two experienced musicians completely comfortable visiting new artistic worlds. This sort of new territory that arises when traditional ideas are blended is exciting, and it certainly warrants a serious listen. Fortunately, Savant Records, the label behind Talisman, has shared a few tracks on SoundCloud, allowing us to get a sneak peek at what promises to be a truly exciting album. They’ve given us three gorgeous tracks to hear – “Quando Eu Canto,” Bianca Gismonti’s “E Quando Quero,” and Chico Pinheiro’s “Encontro,” songs that each carry a wonderful personality of their own. So check out the tracks below and enjoy this wonderful creation from Figueroa and Nasser; once you do, you going to want to check out Talisman!