Minaswing

Live at Satin Doll May 14, 2003

Silvio Anastacio—guitar, vocals
Paulo Cesar Gomes—piano, keyboards
Masami Hattori—percussion
Satoshi Ishikawa—drums
Kiichirou Komobuchi—bass
Steve Sacks—saxophone, flute

Minaswing forms itself around two central concepts: beauty and energy. Their originals and covers from songwriters such as Milton Nascimento are delivered with a sensitivity to the pull of delightful lines of melody and the surge of intricate rhythms. Singer and guitarists Silvio Anastacio sings with the lushness and warmth of the Brazilian tradition. Sharing melody in the group is Steve Sacks, whose sax and flute helps contour Minaswing’s lush melodies. Whether with vocals or sax or flute, Minaswing’s melodies are entrancing.

Minaswing also relishes a carnival-good time, and that, of course, means drums. The band creates powerful, complex rhythms that pull you into the deep sea of good times like a tricky undercurrent on the beach at Rio. Not only is the rhythm section tight, focused and swinging, but they don’t mind letting everyone else jump in on rhythm. For several numbers, the whole band played shakers, hand drums and even their cheeks for a broad rhythmic palette that had the crowd laughing uproariously. Their good humor is highly infectious. For this reason, too, it’s impossible not to like Minaswing.

Their total sound is polished and vivacious. The flow of every song swept up the crowd and transported them. The band knew just when and where to ratchet up the energy level and convert it to forward motion. That mysterious quality is hard to describe, and perhaps left at just that—a mystery. The secret lies somewhere in Minas Gervais, the province of Brazil which is the home of many of Brazil’s best-known musicians, and the source of the group’s name.

The musicians in the band are a mix of Brazilian, American and Japanese. This unique combination forms a strong alloy of influences, experience and tendencies. When the sound became too popular, the jazz influence kicked in. When the rhythm pushed to the foreground, the piano weighed in with dense harmonies. When the melody soared off, the bass line dropped down with danceable funk. This constantly shifting tension between elements never felt confusing, but harmonized completely. One of the most compelling aspects of Brazilian music is the smoothness with which complicated, diverse elements blend, and Minaswing manages this wonderfully.

Their sets balanced smooth, lyrical numbers with lively, solo-filled arrangements. They kept the delicacy and strength of every song humanly proportioned. Their sound connects at a very emotive, personal level, and yet is also complex and engaging in abstract ways as well. They are the best Brazilian band in Tokyo and a delight to hear.