Ed Johnson & Novo Tempo is a Brazilian jazz ensemble led by guitarist and composer Ed Johnson. The group blends sophisticated Brazilian rhythms with jazz harmonies, creating a sound that, over the years, has seen acclaim through their earlier releases. On their latest album, “For Every Living Thing”, they explore the beauty of their sound further, taking us along for the ride as they do. Keep reading for my thoughts!
The opener to the album, “Little Baião”, sees a gentle introduction to the album through soothing jazz rhythms that are gently woven together by the vocals, closely accompanied by the pianos and the mild-mannered drumming in the background. The clean electric guitars add a further bit of flair as “For Every Living Thing” sees a solid foundation built. Segueing to the second track, “No Stopping The Beat (New Day Rising)” is a sunny, optimistic sound that is heartwarming and welcoming to listen to. This time incorporating some organic percussion choices, the signature sound of the ensemble starts to shine through much more dramatically, with the shakers and the maracas playing well indeed with the claps and the warm guitar chords and the vocal performance.
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“For Every Living Thing” sees great articulation in the instruments, a delicate sense of evolution pervading through the whole of the record, making each second an involved, deliberate listen that’s sure to charm the senses from the inside out. The title track, especially, brings forth a certain sense of wonder in the sound that leaves you humming and swaying to the rhythm gently — and as we transition towards the middle of the album, with “Where or When”, the sound is varied, well-articulated, and expertly executed.
The latter part of “For Every Living Thing” starts off with “Balancing”, a delightfully tender and elegant track that fills the atmosphere with much aplomb — the vocal layers and the harmonies playing quite the part in settling you into a gentle breeze of musical motifs. As we bid adieu to the album with “Mue Pais”, it’s the kind of journey that really makes you sit down for a minute in silence, processing what you just experienced, as you slowly take it all in.
The mixing and mastering on this album is par excellence, with excellent timbre in all the instruments to keep this album an involved, deeply layered listen from beginning to end. The basses are voiced really nicely, with the gentle melodies of the piano dallying perfectly with the brasses and the voices. The percussion is a particular standout with its design and placement, making this more than a compelling listen, no matter the time of day. Take a listen to “For Every Living Thing” here!
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