Milton + esperanza

The new album with Esperanza Spalding and Milton Nascimento is a joyous affair, filled with unexpected sounds and colors that only these two artists could conjure. I believe it’s meant to be played all the way through, as the album weaves in and out of contrasting intimate tone poems and larger scale orchestrations, stitched together by little snippets of conversation filled with laughter, while Milton muses on his 60 year career in music.

When people used to ask me who is this Milton Nascimento, I would struggle to find a description. I used to call him the Beatles of Brazil, for his originality and commitment to his very personal musical convictions (and perhaps because Milton is such a huge fan of the Beatles,) but nowadays I refer to him as the Paul Simon of Brazil, for his continual search for new sounds and his intelligent, heartfelt lyrics. Milton is not merely a lyricist, but a true poet. 

Over the course of his career, many artists of different stripes have wanted to work with him. Just listen to a personal favorite, his amazing album, Angelus. Here we find among others, the arranging skills of Gil Golstein, voices of James Taylor and Peter Gabriel, as well as contributions from jazz giants Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette, not to mention the exoticism of the unique instrumental quartet Uakti, all on one generous 80 minute long behemoth of a recording. 

In contrast to the ambitious studio sprawl of Angelus, Milton + Esperanza is a more focused, intimate recording, made in the autumn of Milton’s life; in fact, most of the tracks were recorded in his home. 

In Milton’s vocals, one can hear a lifetime of hard earned wisdom, which, although a bit rough around the edges, still communicate a depth that if anything, time has only honed and deepened. Think of Kenny Wheeler’s last album, Songs for Quintet – That’s how Milton’s voice comes across – aged yet burnished to a fine finish by time. 

Besides revisiting a number of Milton’s tunes from his storied career, Esperanza contributes four of her own tunes and vocals on a number of duos, mostly sung in Portuguese, as well as some solidly supportive bass playing. The album also includes a beautiful, somewhat avant garde version of the Beatles A Day in the Life, as well as a cover of Michael Jackson’s Earth Song. It concludes with a cover of a Shorter song, When You Dream. Originally sung by Shorter’s daughter on the landmark album Atlantis, it is sung here by Shorter’s widow Caroline, who Shorter had urged to sing more often, saying the world needed to hear her voice. I think he would’ve been proud of her performance.

Esperanza seems to have a natural affinity for her elders, something she says goes all the way back to her childhood. She was good friends with Wayne, and collaborated with him in his last years on the opera Iphigenia, in which she also performed the lead role. And of course, there’s that special connection between Wayne and Milton, captured so beautifully on the timeless Native Dancer. Considering their mutual friendship with Shorter,  it seems that much more fitting that Spalding would make this album with the elder artist. Indeed, at the heart of this project is the friendship between two artists from two different generations, brought together through their shared love of the music. The love and affection between the two is palpable on every track. 

Speaking of Paul Simon, Simon sings on the Nascimento tune, Um Vento Passo, in Portuguese no less. Somehow, two of the most different voices in the world find a way to blend together seamlessly. Other guests include Dianne Reeves and the Brazilian guitar maestro Guinga. Multi winds instrumentalist Shabaka Hutchings appears on the album as well, adding beautiful colors to this richly textured recording.

Special mention should be made of the recording itself, which I’m guessing makes use of some of the latest psycho-acoustic 3-D effects. Even though it’s not mixed in surround, it seems to swirl around the room and immerse the listener. I actually had to check my rear speakers to see if they weren’t playing.

This album was obviously a labor of love, and is a fitting tribute to one of the most distinctive artists Brazil has ever produced.

HERE is a lovely 20 minute live Tiny Desk concert with special guests, filmed in Milton’s home.