O TERÇO AO VIVO

Well, it seems I'm the first to write a proper review to this live album by brazilian band O Terço.

Actually I'm not a fan of this band, but I truly appreciate their role in bulding (although preceeded by Os Mutantes, Som Imaginário and even wizards like Hermeto Pascoal - a jazz giant) progressive rock in my country. If you are a Terço fan this album will meet your higher expectations and will receive an easy 5 stars rating. It shows the "classic" line-up (from Criaturas da Noite, their most reconigzed album in prog circles) missing only the member Cesar de Merces.

The track listing covers different phases of the band. Supposedly the overture with their "magnum opus" 1974 should break my heart but I don't know why it seems a little uninspired. The same happens all along the album with the glorious exception of Tributo ao Sorriso, a single not released officialy in their studio albums and that guides us back to the time of their eponimous first album, when it was released with great success.

I feel a little bit sorry but can only give the novice the recomendation of buying "Criaturas da noite" instead of this album. If you like it then you can risk your money here. Considering that I bought it for the equivalent of 5 USA dollars it was a good acquisition to my collection. I'm happy that I'd discovered through this album the joyous "Tributo ao sorriso" and I'm ready to explore their first albums.

A friendly advice: listen to this album before you buy it, if you know what I mean. Unless you're brazilian: Som Livre is selling it through Submarino at an reasonable price.

Good, but not remotely essential: 3 stars.

In 2001 Flávio Venturini gave a solo concert in São Paulo and decided to ask his former colleagues from the O Terço´s classic line up to play with him some old material from the 70´s. So, for the first time in more than 20 years, Venturini, Sérgio Hinds, Sérgio Magrão and Luíz Moreno played together on the same stage. The audience response was so good they decided to reform the band and record a live album and DVD, maybe even a new studio CD. However those plans were scrapped when Moreno suffered a fatal heart attack in the same year. At the urge of Moreno´s widow, they tried again in 2005, with young drummer Sérgio Mello stepping in. This time everything worked alright and the band has since then been playing their classics and even some new material. I had the opportunity to atend to one of their concerts a couple of weeks ago and I was pleased surprised of how fit they all were. The magic is still there.

This live album was recorded at the Canecão, Rio de Janeiro on may 4th, 2005, but only released in 2007. This is basically the same show they´ve been playing since then, except for the fact that the acoustic set was expanded (here they perform only two songs in that format). And they are playing better than ever! With some guests helping out: long time friend Marcus Vianna (from another brazilan prog legend, Sagrado Coração da Terra) plays violin, Irinéia Moreno sings backing vocals on one song and Ruriá Duprat (nephew of their former orchestrator, the famous Rogério Duprat) arranged a couple of songs on which the Uirapuru string quartet is featured.

The repertoire is of course based on their two most famous records, Criaturas Da Noite and Casa Encantada, but there were a few surprises too: Tributo ao Sorriso, a b side from their very first single of 1970 is played with a new, fine arrangement. P.S. Apareça, from their Compositores (1996) is also a nice treat and they even included a new studio song to close the CD, Antes Do Sol Chegar (which sounds a lot like a Venturini solo work, but good anyway). Unfortunately the long instrumental Suite is missing here (it is on the DVD, though), but 1974, probably their best prog epic, is played beautifully right in the beginning of the set.

Production and overall sound quality is top notch. It was really a dream come true for those who were lucky enough to see them live at their heyday (like me, I saw them in 1976). One of the few reunions that really paid off, even with the loss of the much loved Moreno (who was remembered and praised by the other members during the show). Sérgio Melo, meanwhile, does a great job.

Conclusion: a great comeback and a fine CD. One of Brazil´s most important bands of the 70´s is in great form after all theses years! Rating: something between 4 and 4,5 strong stars. Highly recommended!