Sylvia Telles

Silvia Telles doesn't have a strong voice, but fortunately it's hardly necessary in weaving magic from these quintessentially breezy Brazilian classics like "Corcovado," "Dindi," and "Samba de Uma Nota So" ("One Note Samba"). She also attempts American pop standards, a medley of "All the Way," "The Boy Next Door," and "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Telles sounds much less confident here, though her command of English phrasing is definitely up to the task -- and, in the last songs, she toys with the lyrics, substituting "the way we mamboed 'til three" for Gershwin's original. Back on solid ground, her "Dindi" conjures much more of the yearning melancholia of its best interpretations, and her "Oba-La-La" is sweet and seductive. With material by Roberto Menescal and Oscar Castro Neves in addition to the twin heavyweights Gilberto and Jobim, Silvia Telles proves herself one of Brazil's strongest vocalists of the pre-bossa days, and a sizable influence on Elis Regina. The accompaniment, mostly flute and vibes with light percussion and occasional backing vocalists, is appropriately elegant and understated. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide