Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Being a big fan of Antonio Carlos Jobim I heard about this album which fuses Brazilian bossa nova rhythms with the gospel message I was expecting a highly pleasurable listening experience. I didn't get it. The insurmountable problem is that Cardiff-based bass player Kofi Boafo, who is the man behind the project, cannot sing a lick. (Come to think of it, Jobim didn't have much of a voice but at least he knew how to fake it.) So when you get a sinuous bossa nove like "Identity" full of fluid sax injections and a lyric of divine devotion, the effect is ruined by Kofi's fluffed notes. There is some fine playing. I've already mentioned Joel Garthwaite's elegant tenor sax while the cello on "Amazing" is a nice surprise. And the instrumental "At Ease" is pleasant. But the vocals sadly ruin what could have been a fine album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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