Estudando a Bossa

iTunes Review

Antônio José Santana Martins — better known as Tom Zé — was part of the groundbreaking 1960’s Brazilian musical movement known as Tropicália. On Estudando a Bossa, he brings his eccentric touch to bossa nova’s fusion of samba rhythms and jazz harmonies. (This album, along with 1975’s Estudando o Samba and 2005’s Estudando o Pagode, make up a trilogy of “studies” of these musical genres.) Ze’s bossa nova does not have the smooth, breezy quality that is typically associated with the style; things get a little scuffed-up or appealingly bent in this pop experimentalist’s hands. A variety of singers, including David Byrne, make appearances and the singing ranges from lovely to goofy. The opening track starts with a brief, catchy introduction, “Introdução: Brazil (Capital Buenos Aires)” that riffs on misperceptions of South American geography and culture. It soon segues into “Rio Arrepo (Badá-Badi),” a catchy song with odd, funny lyrics and layers of unusual vocal parts. Estudando a Bossa maintains the smart, playful quality of the opener throughout.