Recorded and released in New York, but definitively Brazilian, in the school of João Gilberto, Gimme 5 is Manu Lafer’s 20th release and marks a musical career spanning 20 years. The reference to the casual American greeting is a good representation of the natural-sounding melodies and originality of the harmonies. The title was taken from Come – the English version of Sem Letra, from the CD Grandeza –, which was previously sung by Maude Maggart in The Word. Produced by Sandro Albert, Manu’s partner on the Run N’ Fly project, and released by the independent, New York label Megaforce Records, the album also contained another re-recording of an English version and a collaboration with Toninho Horta based on the language of American fiction about World War I, WWI, which uses common names as adjectives or nicknames for nationalities, bringing that irrational and violent landscape to the general public.
Despite these nods to American music, Gimme 5 is no less an original and Brazilian album. The repertoire, sung almost entirely in Portuguese, contains new songs, such as potential classics A Jura, Clara Maria, Amor Primeiro and Um Par, as well as the catchy Minha Senhora and Faz Anos.
Jazz can be heard played by exponents of: electric guitars and guitars by Sandro Albert (also the producer), drums by Lionel Cordew (Spyro Gira) and Cliff Almond (Michel Camilo), bass by Mark Egan (Weather Report), percussion by Bashiri Johnson (Michael Jackson) and Mino Cinélu and vocals by Darryl Tookes and Sachal Vassandani.
Cindy Mizelle (Steely Dan) also has a special guest participation. The project was recorded by engineer John Kilgore, in New York, and the voices by Alexandre Fontanetti, in São Paulo.
