Fabiano Do Nascimento & Vittor Santos Orquestra: Vila review | Ammar Kalia's global album of the month

2026-02-06 - 09:35

(Far Out) The Brazilian guitarist is joined by the 16-piece ensemble for an album that showcases his dextrous blend of finger-picked melody and percussive strumming Over the past decade, Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento has honed a sound so muscular and expansive it may make you think the prolific soloist and collaborator had four hands playing his instrument’s six strings. His 14 records since 2015’s debut Dança do Tempo include everything from a tender duets album with saxophonist Sam Gendel, The Room, to the electronic-influenced Aquàticos with producer E Ruscha V, and the percussive tabla textures of Cavejaz. On Vila, Nascimento is leaning into orchestral composition, featuring alongside the 16-piece Vittor Santos Orquestra. Employing his signature combination of finger-picked melodics with percussive strumming, Nascimento’s performance across Vila’s 11 tracks showcases his ability to weave seamlessly through the orchestra’s dynamic range rather than playing a single role. On Spring Theme, he establishes a simple lead melody that guides the ensemble and is anchored through swells of strings and soft shaker rhythm, while on Tema em Harmônicos his fingerpicking mirrors thrumming hand percussion as a muted trumpet takes the lead instead; Plateau’s intricate picking answers the staccato tones of the brass section, simultaneously leading and following. Conductor Vittor Santos’s arrangements reference the luscious, bossa-influenced orchestrations of fellow countryman Arthur Verocai, producing enveloping, overlaid harmonies on Valsa and Floresta Dos Sonhos. Continue reading...