The Reunion Project - Varanda (2017)

The Reunion Project brings together a group of virtuoso musicians and longtime friends who grew up playing in Brazil, only to record for the first time together over 20 years later. Felipe Salles and Chico Pinheiro have played music together since they were children. Edu Ribeiro, Felipe and Tiago Costa played in their first jazz groups together in college. Bruno Migotto, younger but cut from the same cloth, joined later to round out the group. The music on Varanda mixes modern jazz, Brazilian traditions and even classical influences, all played with great joy. All but one of the tunes, Jerome Kern's Yesterdays, were composed by members of the group. It is music that leaves you feeling better after listening.