UNIVERSO INVERSO

Just a few words on this one. Way different from the previous and the next album.This delivers a mixture of jazz, latin, brazilian melodies along with hard and edgy fusion/jazz rock. Some are fast guitar oriented tunes which then slow a bit to become more brazilian oriented with piano solos from Yanel Matos who in this case is simply OUTSTANDING!Some are slow more contemporary jazz/brazilian jazz. Also the Bass player Carlinhos Noronha shines through this one but you might have to listen a little bit deeper to be able to comprehend what he is giving to this album.It is rare for me to say such good words for a bass player. Cuca Teixeira's playing might remind you of Dennis Chambers or Billy Cobham.And that is because his style is aggresive and very dynamic. As for Kiko himself no words. Those of you who take time to read these reviews know what he is all about.

For a jazz/fusion fan this is Highly recommended! This is solid 5 stars!

The Brazilian artist Kiko LOUREIRO is arguably among the best known guitarists in his native country. Invited to join highly popular and acclaimed metal act Angra at the age of 19, his reputation has been rising alongside that of the band for the last 20 years. In 2005 he decided to establish himself as a solo artist, which so far has resulted in three CDs: "Full Gravity" from 2005, "Universo Inverso" from 2006 and "Fullblast" from 2009. The first two have spawned several reissues, and amongst them is this 2007 edition of "Universo Inverso", released by the US label Boosweet Records in 2007.

Instrumental jazz rock isn't a style of music most will associate with Kiko Loureiro, I'd imagine, but with "Universo Inverso" he has documented that this type of music is one he excels at just as much as the metal he's more renowned for. If Latin-tinged rhythms, guitar soloing and a firm jazz-oriented backbone in an instrumental guise sounds like something you'd like to become familiar with, this is a disc you'll want to check out, in particular if gentle, smooth high-quality music enriched with subtle details suits your personal taste.

What an incredible album. Not that I didnt know that Kiko Loureiro was capable of doing such an ecletic sound: if you minimally follow Angra releases, will see that their first three albums (and especially Holy Land) is full of fusion with brazilian sounds.

But this album of Kiko Loureiros goes for another kind of stuff. Sure, brazilian motives are all spread around, but the most obvious mix is the heavy metal virtuosity of his guitar with the smooth jazz present in the first track, mainly, but in all album overall. Some of his playing remind me moments of Martin Barre, where the real thing is not solo and yes compose.

I wish all career of Kiko Loureiro were like this, because this album is great.

Not for fans of Heavy Metal, a true progressive fusion over here.