Natural

This will look like a debut album to most Americans, but it is, in fact, Celso Fonseca's fifth solo effort, not counting his many collaborations and supporting gigs with the likes of Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Bebel Gilberto, not to mention such American luminaries as Carlos Santana and jazzman Charles Lloyd. On Natural, Fonseca is not exactly breaking any new ground, but his effortless command of bossa nova's vocal and instrumental conventions and his surehanded leadership of a small but distinguished ensemble combine to produce what is simultaneously one of the most relaxing and most exciting releases of 2003. There are covers of classic tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim ("She's a Carioca") and Baden Powell ("Consolacão") and a great, shimmering version of the jazz standard "The Night We Called It a Day," but his own compositions are equally fine, especially the lovely "Slow Motion Bossa Nova" and the subtly complex "Teu Sorriso." Natural is one of those rare records that will appeal equally to music snobs and rank amateurs, and to deeply knowledgeable Brazilian music fans and complete newcomers to that country's rich musical tradition. Very highly recommended.