Toomai String Quintet – Passos Brasileiros

· by Frédéric Cardin

As time advances, the distinction between “art music” and “popular music” becomes increasingly blurred. In the case of the latter, if sophisticated, the ideological fractions that once camped music lovers on one side of the fence or the other disappear in favor of what Duke Ellington called the only real difference that exists: that between good and bad music. The New York-based Toomai String Quintet understands this thought perfectly, bringing together here all kinds of good music by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Léa Freire and Hermeto Pascoal, among others. Far from being just another crossover offering, Passos brasileiros is a fuller-than-average portrait of the intelligent, stimulating music of the country-continent of Brazil. The new arrangements of works by Nascimento, Pascoal or Gil take on an air that blends well with the scores by Villa-Lobos and Freire, without distorting them. On the contrary, they seem to have always been designed that way. Toomai’s collective sound is full and rich, doing justice to the warmth of these pieces. One or two avant-garde composers would have offered a truly holistic panorama of Brazilian music, but be that as it may, Passos brasileiros is a very welcome proposition.

Latest 360 Content

Sight + Sound | Fili Gibbons

Sight + Sound | Fili Gibbons

Opera McGill | Imeneo of Handel through the lens of Patrick Hansen

Opera McGill | Imeneo of Handel through the lens of Patrick Hansen

Mivos Quartet: three times Reich at Bourgie

Mivos Quartet: three times Reich at Bourgie

Éléonore Lagacé and “Brûlez-moi vive”: pop on fire

Éléonore Lagacé and “Brûlez-moi vive”: pop on fire

Gloin – All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)

Gloin – All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)

Pro Musica | Piano prodigy Jaeden Izik-Dzurko: “serious”, “introverted” and… extremely refined

Pro Musica | Piano prodigy Jaeden Izik-Dzurko: “serious”, “introverted” and… extremely refined

Boubé – Voyager

Boubé – Voyager

An Invitation to Travel by Boubé

An Invitation to Travel by Boubé

Ingrid Saint-Pierre – Five Upright Piano Songs

Ingrid Saint-Pierre – Five Upright Piano Songs

SAT | Le Couleur Changes Spectrum, But First…

SAT | Le Couleur Changes Spectrum, But First…

Whispering Worlds – Cosmic Cliffs

Whispering Worlds – Cosmic Cliffs

ContaQt/Yaz Lancaster/Evan Ziporyn – ConneQt IV

ContaQt/Yaz Lancaster/Evan Ziporyn – ConneQt IV

Nick Storring – Mirante

Nick Storring – Mirante

Housewife – Girl Of The Hour

Housewife – Girl Of The Hour

Los Pirañas – Una Oportunidad Más de Triunfar en la Vida

Los Pirañas – Una Oportunidad Más de Triunfar en la Vida

Ariane Brisson/Philip Chiu – Prokofiev: Flute and Piano Sonatas

Ariane Brisson/Philip Chiu – Prokofiev: Flute and Piano Sonatas

The girls slay Turbo Haus

The girls slay Turbo Haus

marcel – ô fornaiz

marcel – ô fornaiz

Bella White: a newer country bluegrass star

Bella White: a newer country bluegrass star

Classic Rock… Hard Rock… Bob Rock… The Damn Truth!

Classic Rock… Hard Rock… Bob Rock… The Damn Truth!

Dicko Fils: on the road to modernity for the Fulani people

Dicko Fils: on the road to modernity for the Fulani people

Ana Krstajić et Joey Reda – Confluence

Ana Krstajić et Joey Reda – Confluence

CC Duo/collectif9 – Re/String

CC Duo/collectif9 – Re/String

Jan Lisiecki – Preludes

Jan Lisiecki – Preludes

Subscribe to our newsletter