Virginia Rodrigues: Sol Negro [Hannibal] : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Legendary Brazilian singer-composer Caetano Veloso discovered her; superstars Milton Nascimento and Gilberto Gil make cameos on her first recording. But disregard the stellar imprimatur, because the soul on display here is that of contemporary Brazil, embodied by Virginia Rodrigues' extraordinary range and warm, solid voice. The ancient and the modern, the secular and the sacred seamlessly mingle in this document of Brazilian musical forms. In addition to some cool samba ("Adeus Batucada"), Sol Negro features Afro-Bahian songs that detail the black experience ("Negrume da Noite," "Terra Seca"), shimmying spirituals that ground subtle bossa nova with stark and elastic African rhythms. The title song and "Lua, Lua, Lua, Lua" are Veloso's compositions, full of dip and sway through which Rodrigues marches regally -- every dance a rite, every devotional a celebration. (RS 806)

ARION BERGER