Novas Raizes/New Roots

Sambada
Self-Release
World | Aug 2004

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2004-11-22
SAMBADÁ – “Novas Raizes/New Roots”
self-released, 2004

SambaDá is Santa Cruz’s premier Brazilian music ensemble. The group is rhythmically tight with good jazzy arrangements. The original tunes are strong, with hummable melodies and hot grooves, while covers are treated lovingly. The longer tunes do tend to wander a bit in the middle, and several tracks are just too “smooth” for my taste, but don’t let that stop you.

#9-11 are a suite but can be played separately.

Fo’s picks: 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16

2: uptempo and catchy; mellow jazzy midsection
3: cute & bouncy with an African flair, a samba-highlife blend
4: relaxed samba-rock, with a clear Santana influence + rapped vocal
6: a classic tune, insistent beat & vox
7: another classic; lazy tempo, cute melody, turns lively after 3 minutes
8: light and breezy, nice clarinet touches
9: quick, stripped down, group vox + drums
10: smooth jazz, moderately funky
11: another like #9, steady rhythm
12: sweet melody, catchy chorus, berimbau at start and end
13: relaxed tempo, rolling rhythm
15: upbeat, rolling groove, disco middle!
16: Carnaval batucada percussion, not frantic but solid.

[ Fo ] – 11/22/2004

Recent airplay

The Cruz 2
Rojao
The Cafe AmericainJul 04, 2006
Pego Meu Violao
At the Cafe BohemianJan 25, 2005
Levanta a Vela
The PanoplyJan 19, 2005
Berimbau Ja Cancou
Levanta a Vela
At the Cafe BohemianJan 05, 2005

Charting

2004-11-29 — 2005-01-31 Reggae/World
Week EndingAirplays
Jan 30 1
Jan 23 1
Jan 16 1
Jan 9 1
Jan 2 4
Dec 19 5
Dec 12 2
Dec 5 2

Track listing

1. Batucada Introducao
2. Levanta a Vela
3. Ela Deu O Radio
4. Axe Axe
5. Libera
6. Rojao
7. Nasci Para Bailar
8. Pego Meu Violao
9. The Cruz I
10. The Cruz 2
11. The Cruz 3
12. Berimbau Ja Cancou
13. Vem Ca Samba
14. Ze
15. Nao Desespere
16. Sambada Batucada