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Friday, July 23rd @ 8 p.m. Seu Jorge and Almaz will be performing at the Fillmore in Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Avenue

Tickets cost $38

305-673-7300; rhythmfoundation.com

I first became a fan of Seu Jorge’s music after a friend introduced me to the soundtrack album of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou – where he produces brilliant Portuguese covers of classic David Bowie songs such as Starman and Quicksand. I was captivated by the raw expression of his voice. His music felt instantly intimate as if he was a close friend sitting in my living room telling me of his heart’s afflictions. I later looked him up and purchased this album along with Crú and Carolina.

Seu Jorge's 1st album, "Carolina"

Carolina, his first album (also released as Samba Esporte Fino), is to me a much more familiar sound blending swing and samba with extensive use of the cuíca*. He draws from diverse sources such as reggae beats in Hágua (a song about the oncoming scarcity of water on the planet), the use of narrative from pagode in Samba Que Nem a Rita Adora (reminiscent of songs such as Zeca Pagodinho’s Aquilo Que Era Mulher), and the cool/swing vibe from MPB (musica popular brasileira) in De Alegria Rajou o Dia (which brings to mind Djavan’s characteristic fusion of jazz and funk).

Seu Jorge's 2004 album, Cru'

In 2004′s Crú he sounds much closer to the Seu Jorge I first heard in the Life Aquatic. Here he seems to have evolved into his own skin developing that RAW style that has won him such a well-deserved following. He explores acoustic sound allowing his vocals and guitar to pierce their way through the essence of the lyrics while always delivering a heart-breakingly honest performance. It is his deep and raspy voice, the sensibility of his intonations and pauses blended with his intrinsic carioca “suinge” that make him such a unique and relevant International Brazilian musician.

Now, July 27th Seu Jorge will be releasing his newest album Seu Jorge and Almaz and tomorrow (Friday 7/23) him and his band will be performing the first concert of their summer tour in MIAMI BEACH. Given that I havn’t yet spent much time with the new songs (available until the release date on NPR.org – link below) I’ll leave you to decide for yourself and close with Jasmine Garsd’s remarks:

“The album Seu Jorge and Almaz — which doubles as the name of the group — is a continuation of Jorge’s melancholy voyages. With its pensive lyrics and wistful guitar twangs, the entire album sounds as though Jorge is singing it from a tavern in a faraway land.

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Seu Jorge and Almaz mostly consists of cover songs, which in any other artist’s hands could be a recipe for disaster or mediocrity — but, boy, can Seu Jorge pull off a good cover song. He manages the perfect balance between adding his own distinct style and keeping the essence of the original.

While Seu Jorge shines in his English-language rock covers, lovers of Brazilian music will enjoy covers of classic Brazilian songs such as “Saudosa Bahia” (in which a traveler yearns to return to his beloved Bahia), “Cirandar” and the wonderful closing track “Juizo Final,” in which the singer yearns for a judgment day which will bring light to the world. And, while he cites Stevie Wonder as one of his biggest influences, Seu Jorge travels through Brazilian classics riding a Jimi Hendrix-like groove.”

- Jasmine Garsd from NPR Music

*Cuíca (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkwikɐ]) is a Brazilian friction drum often used in samba music. The tone it produces has a high-pitched squeaky timbre. It has been called a ‘laughing gourd’ due to this sound.