ED JOHNSON & NOVA TEMPO
Movimento (Cumulus)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Guitarist Ed Johnson just made the year's best Brazilian pop-jazz album recorded in the United States by non-Brazilians. If that sounds like a joke and a slam, let me just say that if you were to release Movimento down Rio way, it'd give a lot of the "authentic" Brazilian releases a run for their money. It would certainly be a favorite among purists who long for the days of the simple beauty of a nylon string guitar, strong vocals and a bossa nova beat. I confess I'm fascinated by the various hybrids in Brazilian music today, including hip hoppanova... Okay, I made that name up, but you get the point. Most of the time, I'd rather listen to my dusty old copy of Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd's Jazz Samba. Movimento may not be that kind of perfection, but it certainly sounds right at home in such company. Johnson assembled his band, Nova Tempo, for the recording of his 2002 album, Over That Wave, finding outstanding players in Seattle, Vancouver and at home in the Bay Area. There's wonderful chemistry at work here, resulting in smooth jazz that isn't dull, mellow pop filled with creative playing, and very authentic Brazilian music that's technically not. Just an accident of geography.

© 2004 - DJ Johnson