This complete album, note-for-note transcription of Claudio Roditi’s Jazz Turns Samba is part of a tremendous project by Adrian Ruiz to transcribe the complete discography of this legendary performer. In collaboration with the Roditi estate, qPress will be bringing you the definitive series of his albums with notable forwards and liner notes whenever possible.

Hendrik Meurkens writes in his foreword that “Jazz Turns Samba is a landmark recording. Except for two originals, Claudio took jazz standards and turned them into . . . sambas! That was his mission, to show that the two languages work well together if you know the recipe. And here it is really all about phrasing. What is the rhythmic concept, and where do you put the notes? You cannot lay back when playing Brazilian music, it does not work. Your phrasing has to be on top of the beat. Listen to Claudio’s playing on this album with that in mind. His rhythmic concept is that of a Brazilian percussion player. That is the lesson to take away from listening to Claudio. The material is not what makes it Brazilian, it is the delivery.”

This edition includes the foreword by Hendrik Meurkens, complete liner notes as originally written by Claudio Roditi, and the complete album transcription by Adrian Ruiz. Have a look at some sample pages to the left, then click above for an immediate digital download.

Song List

1. Moody’s Samba
2. Birks Works
3. Speak Low
4. Without a Song
5. Come Rain or Come Shine
6. Giant Steps
7. Moanin’
8. Moment’s Notice
9. Donna Lee
10. Inside Out