Five of the eleven compositions found on this CD Metheny composed in one day, closed up in room, two days before recording in New York. "The tunes just flowed out," he recalls. "They are basically the kind of "blowing tunes" that set up a vibe where the improvisation has a context and a starting point, but can be played a million different ways from night to night." His acoustic guitar pieces are at times melancholic but extremely beautiful. "Just like the day" is an attempt to capture "the beauty and joy" of the band's week touring in Italy. "We Had A Sister," originally written for Joshua Redman's debut release "Wish," is resurrected here in a more chordal arrangement. Also included are three classics, John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," Wayne Shorter's "Capricorn" and a beautiful arrangement of "A lot of Livin' To Do," from the musical "Bye, Bye, Birdie." The CD also contains the first studio recording of the Metheny/Mays composition "Travels," only released to date as a live recording on the release "Travels." This is a recording that will be appreciated years from now and that will create a new standard for others to try to emulate.

     The latest and unfortunately last recording by the musician Suba, Sao Paulo Confessions on Six Degrees Records, continues the work that was introduced on the "Brasil 2mil" compilation. Born in Yugoslavia, Suba studied music in Europe before moving to Brazil in the late 1980's. A Sao Paulo resident, until his untimely death last year in a fire that engulfed his apartment and studio, Suba was on the verge of becoming a major force in the musical life of Brazil. A producer for such artists as Mestre Ambrosio, Edson Cordeiro and Arnaldo Artunes, as well as composing for theatre and dance that incorporated his research of Afro-Brazilian rhythms and native Indian music, Suba also created sound-tracks for over fifty fashion shows in collaboration with some of Brazil's leading fashion designers.

     This is a collection of music that captures the emotions of living in the city of Sao Paulo. Simple melody lines are pitted against electronic atmospheres and rhythmic percussion, creating captivating images and textures that evoke the restlessness of the Brazilian night. Vocalists Cibelle, Taciana, and Katia B., along with percussionist Joao Parahyba contribute to this recording.

     Anhelo on the Erato label is a wonderful collection of traditional folk songs perfor-med by the Argentinean tenor, Jose Cura. Not the usual cross-over recording that is quite prevalent these days, this was a major under taking where Cura not only conducts and provides the arrangements for the orchestration, he also composed two of the songs and the opening orchestral introduction. Joined by guitarist, Ernesto Bitetti and pianist, Eduardo Delgado, both known from childhood, Cura's voice captures the beauty of these songs usually with very sparse arrangements, highlighting such instruments as recorders, clarinet and bassoon. These are songs that deserve to be more widely known. Cura's love for this music is evident and one cannot help but be caught up with the beauty of the music on this disc.