Noites Do Norte CD

NOITES DO NORTE won the 2001 Latin Grammy Award for Best Musica Popular Brasileira Album. The album was also nominated for the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards for Best Engineered Album. "Sou Seu Sabia" and "Zera A Zera" were both nominated for the 2001 Latin Grammy for Best Brazilian Song.

Tropicalia pioneer Caetano Veloso treads a fair amount of stylistic ground on his 2001 album NOITES DE NORTE, from the chamber pop of the title track to the reggae-inflected groove of Jorge Ben's "Zumbi" (the only non-Veloso composition here) and the Lou Reed-learns-Portuguese electric impact of "Rock `n' Raul." But regardless of the eclectic route, the one thing that Veloso brings wherever he goes is that one-of-a-kind voice, floating atop each track with a grace, a flexibility, and often, a sensuality that mark him as one of Brazil's finest vocalists. And that's not even mentioning his songwriting skills, which are on ample display throughout NOITES DO NORTE as well, shifting through subtle harmonic dynamics to uncover deceptively effortless-seeming melodic inventions at every turn.

Recorded at AR Studio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Personnel includes: Caetano Veloso (vocals, acoustic guitar); Lulu Santos, Zelia Duncan, Nara Gil, Belo Veloso (vocals); Luis Brasil (acoustic & 12-string guitars, talk box); Pedro Sa (electric guitar, bass); Davi Moraes (electric guitar); Dudu Nobre (ukelele); Michel Bessler, Eduardo Hack (violin); Marie Springel, Ricardo Taboada (viola); Moreno Veloso (cello); David Ganc (alto flute, piccolo); Carlos Malta (bass flute); Carlos Prazeres (oboe); Milton Guedes (harmonica); Chiquinho Chagas (accordion); Flavio Melo, Jesse Sadoc (trumpet); Paulo Calazans (Hammond B-3 organ); Jotinha (vibraphone); Zeca Assumpcao (acoustic bass); Jo (surdo virado, timbales, timpani, darbuka, rattle); Domenico, Cleber Sena (percussion).

Rolling Stone (5/10/01, p.90) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...His lyrics describe a bittersweet mixture of darkness and light, and the dizzying eclectic music balances that tone....with breezy, impetuous butterfly grace."
Alternative Press (7/01, p.88) - 7 out of 10 - "...He has a sense of grace and elegance that transcends both place and time..."
CMJ (4/30/01, p.27) - "...An extremely varied album, but always charming..."
Down Beat (8/01, pp.70,73) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Quietly grand..."
Mojo (Publisher) (5/01, p.108) - "...Another example of one of the world's greatest balladeers working at the peak of his powers..."