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Amanda Ruzza, This is What Happened

Amanda Ruzza -][- This is What Happened –MP3– [Amanda Ruzza, 2012 | Review] –

When new music crosses my path one of the first things I do besides listen is checkout the liner notes to see the track titles, song length and if there is anyone that I’m familiar with playing on the recording. “This is What Happen” is the sophomore album by electric bassist Amanda Ruzza born in São Paulo, Brazil enlisted a stellar cast of musicians which includes: Mauricio Zottarelli (drums and percussion), Alex Nolan (electric and acoustic guitars), Mamiko Watanabe (Rhodes), Cliff Korman (piano), Lucas Pino (tenor and soprano saxophones), Chris Stover (trombone) and David Binney (alto sax).

Some of you might recognize Ruzza performing on Global Noize album by Grammy-Award winning keyboardist Jason Miles. The Berklee College of Music grad’s multicultural background allows her to draw from a variety of influences, she opens the session with an animated funk groove titled “Larry and I.” This gem is the springboard that unleashes the first of seven songs kicks into overdrive to demonstrate as a soloist she’s not just another pretty face … she came to play.

With each song throughout I found myself elated with the distinct, smooth and varied moods, particularly when culture is adorned in the body of pieces like “Pagao.” The visionary Ruzza paints this canvas with descriptive tones, definition and colorful flavors of Brazil dances in motion with sheer delight and excitement.

The multi-lingual Ruzza expresses herself fluently in four languages Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and English. Her eclectic taste in music has been with her since childhood, “Costanera” mirrors her yearning to widen the musical playground and explore it with an array of hypnotizing tones, shapes and colors align with her jubilant spirit to express herself beyond the ordinary.

On “Monday 3 A.M.,” Amanda’s fingers move graciously up and down the lower and upper register of the bass to produce her sound and frame the tempo with melodic and sensuous tones establishes a relaxed yet complex soundscape features the remarkable David Binney on alto horn. For those who may doubt, her touch on the bass is advanced and comparable to her contemporaries.

The remaining selections consist of “Pimenta no Choro, Gin and This is What Happened” all three are complimentary to the aforementioned pieces on this impressive tapestry of songs. As a result, her musical vocabulary unveils an unexpected fluidity, passion and tonality effortlessly expressed by her on this template of exquisite songs. –Recommended– | —Rob Young | Urban Flux Media | Review