Augusto Martins - Augusto Martins (1997)

On his first album, Augusto Martins affirms himself as a competent member of the renowned brotherhood of Brazilian samba interpreters, in a time of lesser interest in the genre by newer pop generations. His repertoire consists of tunes by genuine samba do morro (samba of the hills) composers like Sombrinha, Arlindo Cruz, Luiz Carlos da Vila, D. Ivone Lara, Délcio Carvalho, Cartola and by excellent MPB composers strongly tied to the faithful morro tradition such as Gonzaguinha, Paulo César Pinheiro, Cristóvão Bastos, Chico Buarque, Luiz Melodia, Taiguara, Baden Powell, João Nogueira, and Djavan. The album has a mainstream studio sonority (bass, keyboards, arrangements), under which revolve cavaquinhos, cuícas, surdos, and seven-string violões, which instill a true if calmer samba atmosphere.~Augusto Martins Review by Alvaro Neder