Nanny Assis

Nanny Assis has been an in-demand session drummer and percussionist for years, but Double Rainbow is his debut recording as a solo artist. It reveals him to be a very fine arranger and bandleader and a pretty good vocalist -- though one who is more convincing at faster tempos than at slow ones, and more effective in Portuguese than in English. The album opens on a slightly unfortunate note, with a weak rendition of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Double Rainbow" that Assis sings in English; the lyrics themselves don't do particularly well in translation, and Assis' voice is strangely watery and flaccid. But things get much better immediately thereafter, and they stay better throughout the rest of the album: the intoxicating rhythm and lively flute part on "A Rã," the gorgeously arranged and sparklingly upbeat "Mas Que Nada" (a Jorge Ben composition), and the delightfully light "Brasileirinho" are all highlight tracks, but there are many small yet brilliant gems of musical achievement scattered throughout all of the songs. The tightly arranged backing vocals on "Melhor Refrão," the drum parts on "Magalenha," the flute that recurs like an idée fixe from time to time throughout the program -- these are all hallmarks of an artist who has learned an awful lot about arranging over the course of his career. And when he reprises the title track at the very end of the album, he sings it in Portuguese -- and nails it. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide