by Mark Kirby

"What is this?" The answer to this question which is always asked when I play the record at the renown New York City jazz bar, the 55 Bar, will soon be known in North America. Other parts of the world - France, Japan, South America, particularly Brazil - have already caught onto this exciting, powerful guitar voice which has wowed guitarists and musical civilians alike. Kiko Loureiro has excelled in the musical realms of rock, Brazilian metal and instrumental guitar-based music. He even has DVD's of guitar lessons and other musical instruction. And with his latest recording Universo Inverso, he is poised to break out in America and other places where his guitar virtuosity has yet to be known.

Musicians hanging out or setting up in this venerable jazz and blues establishment have commented on the skilled playing -- melodically and harmonically ear-catching -- and unique musical cross breeding on this record. Known for his guitar technique, it must be said that, like many a great musician (not to give this man, a mere human after all, the kiss of death by mentioning these names, but...) - Hendrix, Zappa, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan - chops are in service to strong emotional statements, and a cascading flow of spontaneous and carefully constructed music ideas, soulfully logical like a good Sunday morning Baptist preacher. This is the flow-through between this showcase of various musical styles in the early jazz rock style of the seventies, before the crass excesses of fusion befouled our musical waters.

Universo Inverso is indeed an inverted universe, where seemingly disparate modes and tenors of expression all fit, like an old fashioned FM college station and in the free form musical minds of inspired artists and open-minded listeners longing to be delighted, turned on, challenged, and liberated from station managed existence. This record works a whole and not just a collection of songs; like the best jazz albums and those by creative rock artists such as the Beatles and early (very early) Genesis, this record takes you on a journey through the Kiko's musical life and mind.

Throughout this CD, Kiko shows his grasp of harmony in the sometimes dancing, sometimes searing guitar leads. His metalish roots show to best effect in his guitar solos, where no matter how intelligently he's playing, he never fails to we-will-we-will rock you. And like Jeff Beck, he ends his phrases and licks with ring-out blue notes. "Samba da Elisa" is an almost pure samba, a fitting homage to influential Brazilian composer Paulinho da Viola. Whereas the guitar work on "Feijão de Corda" and other tracks illustrate Kiko's command of a variety of complex and innovative techniques -- two-handed finger hammering on the strings, different types of picking to manipulate distortion and effects -- here he plays in a simple, traditional jazz style.

"Monday Mourning" is based on a Brazilian waltz style that any Brazilian composure worth his salt aspires to tackle, the way that a classical composer seeks to write a concerto or a jazz player to take on the blues. It is in the mode of the work of composers such as Tom Jobim, Edu Lobo and Heitor Villa-Lobos. The song has a kind of let's-turn-it-down a notch mellowness that is a staple of jazz records. It shows Kiko has the skill and sensitivity to play a straight Latin jazz guitar sans pyrotechnics. "It has a sad melody, a dark and complex harmony," says Kiko. "It's another opportunity to listen to me playing with clean guitar and a jazz improvisation."

The Brazilian musical forms are modernized and integrated by Kiko and his group -- pianist, cellist, and prime collaborator Yaniel Matos, bassist Carlinhos Noronha and drummer Cuca Teixeira -- into a modern jazz rock presentation. This is accomplished with the help of Mr. Matos, who, in addition to writing three of the album's ten songs, has long encouraged Kiko to show all sides of his musical world. Though this record is a tour de force for Kiko, all the players stand out, bringing their own interesting musical personalities to bear.

Read the complete interview with Kiko Loureiro
http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=102155

http://www.myspace.com/kikoloureiroband