Eumir Deodato - 1973 [2000] "Deodato 2"

Deodato 2 is a 1973 album by Brazilian keyboardist Eumir Deodato. It features noted session guitarist John Tropea on 4 tracks and virtuoso bassist Stanley Clarke on one song, "Skyscrapers". His version of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" was used in Pontiac commercials during the early-1970s. The song reached #48 in Canada in 1973.

The surprise success of “Also Sprach Zarathrustra” on Prelude prompted Deodato to quickly follow with Deodato 2, a record that closely followed the template of his first number one hit. Deodato knew there was a lot of money to be made courting the rock audience, and there’s little on this record that could safely be called jazz. However, this record still stands up remarkably well today, unlike some of the other keyboard-driven records from the era. This time “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Death of A Pavane Princess” get the revisionist treatment and they provide a nice contrast to one another; the former is all funky electric piano and fierce rock and roll guitar, the later a minimalist piece with synthesized strings and icy piano flourishes. However, the real gems are the Deodato originals; disco-ish workouts like “Funky Strut” and “Skyscrapers” probably appealed to Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind, and Fire fans originally and will find favor with the club scene today. Three bonus cuts are added to the original running time, including a lovely tune called “Venus” and a passable run through of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”. Although Prelude is still the better of the two, Deodato 2 isn’t far behind.

Deodato's debut for CTI, Prelude, earned him a genuine reputation for funky fusion with its groove-tight cover of "Thus Spake Zarathustra," the theme from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. The rest of the album isn't quite as memorable, but it fit the bill and got nice reviews for its innovative read of Borodin and Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun." On 2, the Brazilian composer and arranger dips into the funked-up fusion tank once again, and comes out with a more consistent disc than its predecessor. Arranged, conducted, and keyboarded by Deodato himself instead of CTI house arrangers Don Sebesky or Bob James, the maestro enlisted a fusion who's who of sidemen including drummer Billy Cobham, bassist Stanley Clarke, and flutist Hubert Laws, as well as rockers like John Tropea on guitar. The larger ensemble that provides brass, woodwind, and string support includes trumpeter Jon Faddis and Jim Buffington. "Super Strut" kicks it off. Deep-grooved lines of accented angular riffing and rim-shot syncopation by Cobham turn this simply notated four-stepper into a burning ball of greasy rock and souled-out jazz. This is followed by a wildly campy but nonetheless wondrous read of "Rhapsody in Blue" done Stevie Wonder-style. Deodato's keyboard work never lets the groove drop; he pulls the rhythm section down around him and hunkers his phrasing to punch up the long, sweeping horns and string lines. Less successful is a read of "Nights in White Satin," with its overwrought strings, and a "Pavane for a Dead Princess" that's a snore. The album officially closes with "Skyscrapers," another jazz-rock rave-up that blasts holes in the sonic sky with its dueling keyboard and guitar lines.

Track listing: 

The CD release also featured an extended version of Super Strut, an extended and re-mixed outro to Skyscrapers, as well as 3 bonus tracks.

1.    "Super Strut" - 9:31
2.    "Rhapsody in Blue" - 8:48
3.    "Nights in White Satin" - 6:01
4.    "Pavane for a Dead Princess" - 4:08
5.    "Skyscrapers" - 7:01

Bonus tracks

6.    "Latin Flute" (Eumir Deodato) - 4:49
7.    "Venus" (Eumir Deodato) - 3:32
8.    "Do It Again" (Walter Becker, Donald Fagen) - 5:31

Personnel:

Band

    Eumir Deodato: Keyboards, Acoustic and Electric Piano
    John Tropea: Guitars
    John Giulino, Stanley Clarke: Bass
    Alvin Brehm, Russell Savakus: Arco Bass
    Billy Cobham, Rick Marotta, Frank Zee: Drums
    Gilmore Degap, Rubens Bassini: Congas, Percussion

Strings

    David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harold Kohon, Harry Cykman, Harry Glickman, Harry Lookofsky, Irving Spice, Joe Malin, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman: Violin
    Alfred Brown, Emanuel Vardi: Viola
    Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, George Ricci: Cello

Woodwinds

    Joe Temperley: Baritone Sax
    George Marge, Hubert Laws, Jerry Dodgion, Romeo Penque: Flute
    Tony Studd: Bass Trombone
    Garnett Brown, Wayne Andre: Trombone
    Brooks Tillotson, Jim Buffington: French Horn
    Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm, Jon Faddis: Flugelhorn and Trumpet
    Burt Collins, Joe Shepley, Victor Paz: Trumpet