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Badi Assad at the Dakota, July 23, 2013 |
© Andrea Canter
Back in 2005, Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Badi Assad toured
throughout the universe with two iconic American guitarists, Larry Coryell and
John Abercrombie. They landed in Minneapolis
for a night at the Dakota. In addition to the guitar, I recall an odd tube-like
“instrument” that Badi used to add another dimension to her already stunning
music. But it was a guitar show and she was but one-third of the attraction.
Eight years later, Badi returned to the Dakota with her own back-up team (drums
and bass), and this time the focus was on the voice and the songs that have
made her a pop/rock star in Brazil
and beyond. But it wasn’t her ethereal
renditions of Tori Amos or modern Brazilian hits that really captivated my
attention – her talents are indisputable but there are a lot of talented pop
and rock singers out there, even those who bring along the added talent of guitar
and/or piano.
Toward the latter part of the set, Badi mentioned that she
might be described as part Tori Amos, part Bobby McFerrin. An odd combination,
certainly. But a fair summation of her solo work at the Dakota as she gave us
what can only be described as vocal magic. Like McFerrin and Theo Bleckmann, Badi
is not content to merely “sing”. Like a saxophonist using circular breathing, or one of the reed players who manages to blow through two horns at once, Badi finds
air in more than one place and creates simultaneously very distinct sounds—such
as the percussive pops of McFerrin in harmony with longer, more voice-like
tones. Add guitar and she is a one-woman orchestra. Already a commanding visual
presence as she tilts back on her stool, long wavey hair flying, Badi creates
sounds that literally seem to come from thin air.
And it isn’t a novelty. It’s musical. It’s spell-binding. It’s
as much a new science as a new art form. It’s Badi-genics.
Where do those sounds come from? I have no idea.
Maybe you can figure it out: see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaBjldGi6kI&list=TLws4SD4_wAIQ
Maybe you can figure it out: see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaBjldGi6kI&list=TLws4SD4_wAIQ