Ukulele Harmonies Live in Niterói – João Tostes & Vinícius Vivas (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

The ukulele’s reputation has been dragged down recently, thanks to a wave of pop chancers who view the instrument’s four strings and short neck and mistake its simple design for something easy to play. The result was a cascade of badly strummed, ultimately forgettable folk-pop that seemed to disappear from view as quickly as the fickle winds of fad and fashion had ushered it in.

Of course, no one instrument is easier than any other; mastering any takes years, whether it is a humble four-stringer or an 88-keyed beast. And what this latest live album from João Tostes & Vinícius Vivas reminds us is that even the ukulele, in the right hands, can be dexterous and elegant, sonically eloquent and deftly delivered, and these are indeed the right hands.

18 compositions, eight strings, two masters of their craft, and an array of gorgeous music. Blending their own Brazillian heritage through the music via bossa nova and choro rhythms, they venture into everything from jazz, classical, and world music soundscapes, creating music that crosses genre and geography, blends cultures, and creates gorgeously unique music.

We are treated to charming and chiming understatement with “Pianoforte,” crowd singalongs in the form of “Xote Sem Rumo,” and jazzy blues thanks to Tema Pro Ben.” “She’s Leaving Home” is understated and bordering on the neo-classical, and there is even room for a brilliant take on Paul McCartney’s iconic “Yesterday. ”

As two of Brazil’s leading lights in the ukulele world, you knew that this would be a great album, but even that doesn’t prepare you for such a magnificent suite of music. I would challenge anyone who says that they don’t like ukulele music, probably because of a bad experience with a folk busker at a local gig, not to be enthralled by this album. I would go as far as to say that anyone who says that they don’t like ukulele music does so because they have never heard the instrument played properly. They need this album in their life.