Artist: Chris Wells

Date of Release: 01/01/2003

Catalogue no: 679

Label: -

Price: £12

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Track Listing

Appearances by

Azul, Ife Tolentino, John Parricelli, Julian Jackson

Chris Wells' CD is excellent from beginning to end. The percussion is brilliant all through the recording. I especially like the way he has blended the Afro Brazilian afoxe rhythm with Cuban rumba clave & Middle Eastern dumbek to fit like a glove under a blues piano & hammond B3 solos on the song "Atabaque." I've been waiting for some new music by Batacoto & the great Brazilian drummer, Teo Lima, so it's a delight to hear their wonderful vocals in addition to the other vocalists, Monica Vasconcelos & Valdo Silva. I will give it airplay on my radio show, Raizes, on KBC S 91.3FM, here in Seattle, WA, USA."

Pra Sempre is the debut from composer/producer CHRIS WELLS, recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Memphis and London and blends the beauty of Brazilian melody, harmony and rhythms with the soul of R&B. The highlight is Brazilian superstar IVAN LINS performing a special arrangement of his own song "Velas Icadas. Other contributors include Teo Lima, Sizao Machado, Coro do Batacoto, Cassiano (from Mestre Ambrosio), Monica Vasconcelos, Valdo Silva, pl us Memphis blues ace Charlie Wood, who is the album's featured soloist on Hammond B3 and piano.

Reviews

01/01/2003 Samia Panni

"Excellent compositions, production & blend of Brazilian music with other genres".

01/09/2002 Daniella Thompson

Pra Sempre is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-designed production, both aurally and visually.

01/03/0005 PETER CULSHAW / SONGLINES

AN AMBITIOUS ALBUM THAT’S NEARLY FANTASTIC

Chris Wells has obviously had a ball making this ambitious project, which was recorded in Rio, Salvador, São Paulo, Memphis and London. He managed to talk some top Brazilian musicians into collaborating on the album, a particular coup being the celbrated songwriter Ivan Lins, who sings his own charming song, “Velas Içadas”. The rest of the album consists of Wells’ music, with Portuguese words from three lyricists. Other top Brazilians on board include drummer Téo Lima and bassist Sizão Machado. But what shifts the album in a different direction is the Memphis connection, specifically Charlie Wood’s Hammond playing, which provides R&B and soul elements, and includes exciting work-outs on tracks such as “Atabaque”.....

This is a superior MPB record with a unique Memphis spice, which Brazilian music lovers will find much to admire in. And if Wells could get all these musicians togetehr on tour, which might be aa tall order, it could be sensational........