Forests

The Brazilian Trio consists of three Brazilian-born musicians who left their native land to expand their musical horizons in New York. Pianist Helio Alves has recorded extensively as a leader, while bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca make up two-thirds of the group Trio da Paz. The band is not a typical piano/bass/drums trio, but an interactive group with all members contributing to the arrangements. They explore gems by Milton Nascimento (including a shimmering, reflective rendition of "Tarde" and a driving romp through "Vera Cruz"), along with a breezy take of Ivan Lins' "Amor." Their originals, which make up half of the CD, are just as potent: Alves' sauntering samba "Ubatuba," and Matta's "Forests," which conveys both the beauty of Brazilian wilderness and the tense daily battle for survival among its inhabitants. Da Fonseca's easygoing, lyrical "Flying Over Rio" is also noteworthy.