On Cymbals, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Vinicius Cantuaria has once again taken the bossa nova from his native Brazil and stretched it to the breaking point. This album follows nearly two and a half years after the fine Silva, released in October of 2005. While that recording centered on Cantuaria's then fascination with strings and the muted sounds of brass in contrast to his guitar playing, Cymbals centers more on his considerable talent as a singer in addition to his groundbreaking guitar playing -- the latter is so utterly original and genre-defying that it deserves its own category. Nine of the 11 tunes here were self-penned or written in collaboration -- two with master Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and one with African vocalist Angélique Kidjo -- and Cantuaria produced the set himself. The list of collaborators on Cymbals is, as usual, an eclectic one, with hallmarks of both the straight-ahead and vanguard jazz communities of New York City: Brad Mehldau and Michael Leonhart help out on a few cuts, and on others Marc Ribot, Jenny Scheinman, Erik Friedlander, and David Binney contribute. Percussionist Marivaldo Dos Santos is also present on a number of cuts. It's also where the recording was made. Cantuaria's bossa style may retain some of the breeziness of the standard form, but it's a deeper, more introspective, and moodier one that owes to both Portuguese fado and Cape Verdean morna playing as well.

1		Galope
2		Voçe e Eu
3		Chuva
4		Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer)
5		Voçe Está Sumindo
6		Prantos
7		O Batuque
8		Ominira
9		Tua Cara
10		Champs de Mars
11		To You