Review

Antonio J. García
Samba do Mar:

Greeley, CO, United States
Publisher: UNC Jazz Press
Date of Publication: 2010

Primary Genre: Jazz Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This is sort of a bare bones (pun unintended) arrangement of a García original, dedicated to his wife and translated as "Samba of the Sea," which is reflected in the rising and falling dynamics and general flow of the piece. It was composed for the ITF Jazz Trombone Choir and premiered in Austin, TX at the 2010 event. So, as García puts it in his extensive performance notes, the piece is "playable by as few as four performers or as a larger choir." There is a sketchy drum set part but, as those of you know who have coached jazz or Latin ensembles, you can't just retool an Afro-Cuban rhythm section or jazz drummer into an authentic Brazilian idiom, so it might be safer just to use a samba "egg" shaker to provide a steady pulse for the ensemble syncopation, the latter reminiscent of bossa nova standards like Jobim's classic "One-Note Samba," or else omit the part entirely. The piece is in 2/2 meter, half-note=106. Bass trombone does double duty, sometimes laying down a steady half-note line, accenting beat two in imitation of the surdo or Brazilian bass drum omnipresent in outdoor music events (think Carnival in Rio), at other times joining the tenor trombones on their syncopated tutti passages. A middle section can be opened up for solos. The relatively simple chord changes, in D minor, are notated in the 2nd part. The general structure of the piece is flexible enough to allow for expansion, which is typical of so much great Latin music. Ranges are conservative; a clearly-printed score and parts are provided. This can serve as a nice relief piece on a trombone ensemble concert and give your students a chance to get in touch with the amazing idioms of Brazil.

-Gerry Sloan
University of Arkansas