Caipi
On Caipi, Kurt Rosenwinkel gives his songs more room than extended guitar solos. He plays many of the instruments himself, bringing jazz, Brazilian music and pop together. His singing is less polished than his guitar playing. That gives the record a personal quality, even when the arrangements become quite full.
The title track makes the Brazilian influence clear. Its layered backing stays close to a recognisable song. On Kama, synthesizers and an electronic beat meet Portuguese singing.
Casio Escher combines wordless singing from Amanda Brecker and Pedro Martins with fingerpicked guitar and Mark Turner's saxophone. The voices give its arrangement extra colour.
Little Dream includes a modest guitar contribution from Eric Clapton. Again, the pop song matters more than any contest between guitarists. Singing and instrumental layers receive plenty of attention, but not every melody stays with you equally well. The soft, romantic atmosphere sometimes reduces the tension.
Playing so many parts himself gives the music a consistent identity. It also makes the limits of this approach clearer. An expressive guest performance does not always give the whole song the extra force it needs.
That is Caipi's main limitation. The largely self-built sound is accomplished, but its full arrangements do not always leave enough space between the parts. The rhythms could sometimes feel more immediate. At the same time, the choice to make these personal songs is easy to understand. Rosenwinkel is clearly looking for another way to bring his musical ideas together. The best moments invite further attention, even if the whole album is not equally convincing throughout.
