ROBERTO MONTERO, Todos os Tempos

When a debut album is as melodically and harmonically grandeur-filled, intricately and ambitiously produced and star-studded (Munyungo Jackson, Otmaro Ruiz) as Brazilian guitarist Roberto Montero’s Todos os Tempos, there must be a ton of incredible professional history paving the way.

As listeners journey on a beautiful, rhythmically diverse free-flowing ride from the lively, percussion, Fender Rhodes and vocal fueled breezes of “Igarape (Caminho de Canoa)” through the balmy, lyrical and laid back “Vou Mas Fico,” they should know that Montero, for one, has taught guitar at Los Angeles College of Music for over 20 years.

Exploring his resume further, they’ll learn he sang and played on several continents with Sergio Mendes and has tons of TV and film soundtrack credits. They’ll be grateful that, with all that keeping him busy, he finally found time to grace the world with his sweet-strumming strings and an ear attuned to different vibes and Brazilian rhythms which bring depth, emotional impact and sonic surprises to the session.

Designed to showcase Montero’s array of influences – from jazz and popular to classical music – the repertoire perfectly balances peppier numbers like “Bom Bailaio” and “De Duas” with tender solo acoustic ballads like “Valsa do Tempo Parado” and “Aquele Mare” which are the true heart and soul of the album. An impressive debut from an artist everyone will want to hear a lot more from!