By Herb Boyd | Published October 2020
There was a wondrous moment upon hearing the first track of Eddie Daniels’ Night Kisses: A Tribute To Ivan Lins. Who was the stunning flutist on “A Voz De Povo (The People’s Voice)”? Surprisingly, it was the esteemed bandleader, who hadn’t recorded with the instrument in years. Regardless of his axe, though, Daniels’ embouchure remains as ready as his quicksilver technique.
He delivers fresh insights into these Lins compositions, shifting effortlessly from perky funk to a stream of melodious fragments. After several tunes on flute in this tribute to the great Brazilian composer, Daniels democratically performs a few on tenor saxophone and clarinet. The appearance of Dave Grusin and Bob James for “Ivante” is another pleasant surprise, and the dual pianists, both having previously recorded with Daniels, are compelling as Grusin’s acoustic blends expressively with James’ electric. Augmenting Daniels’ enchanting clarinet riffs on “Cantor Da Noite (The Night Singer)” is the Harlem Quartet, a lush bank of strings, ably supported by bassist Kevin Axt. Listeners then are taken to sea on “Velas Içadas (Hoisted Sails),” Daniels’ calm clarinet set against choppy wave-like accents from drummer Mauricio Zottarelli.
Having completed the second album in a trilogy dedicated to Brazilian composers for the Resonance imprint—the first focusing on Egberto Gismonti and the third devoted to Milton Nascimento—Daniels continues to boast an ebullience so characteristic of both his style and performances.
Night Kisses: A Tribute To Ivan Lins: A Voz De Povo (The People’s Voice); Pano De Fundo (Backdrop); Mãos De Afeto (Hands Of Affection); D’Aquilo Que Eu Sei (That Which I Know); Velas Içadas (Hoisted Sails); Dinorah, Dinorah (The Call Girl); Cantor Da Noite (The Night Singer); Quadras De Roda: O Passarinho Cantou (Children’s Folk Dance); Amor (Love); Lembra (Remember); Depois Dos Temporais (After The Storms); A Noite (The Night); Ivante. (69:32)
Personnel: Eddie Daniels, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone; Kuno Schmid, Bob James (10, 13), Dave Grusin (3, 11, 13), Josh Nelson (1, 8, 12), keyboards; Harlem Quartet, strings; Kevin Axt, bass; Mauricio Zottarelli, drums.
