Manu Lafer & Friends ~ GIMME 5

Gimme 5 is Brazilian singer, songwriter, and acoustic guitar player Manu Lafer’s forthcoming U.S. release (Fall 2018). All of the songs on the recording are his original compositions and were arranged and produced by Sandro Albert, who also plays guitar on all of the tracks (Sandro and Manu created the group Run N’ Fly, which released their first self-titled album in 2017).

Two of the songs on Gimme 5 are English versions of well-known tunes, and a third includes lyrics to a new song by Toninho Horta that is sung by Lafer and Horta, respectively, and lead by Steely Dan vocalist Cindy Mizelle.

Featured musicians:
Sandro Albert (electric and acoustic guitar),
Toninho Horta (acoustic guitar as special guest),
Bashiri Johnson (percussion),
Cliff Almond (drums),
Jack Wilkins (guitar)
Mike Riucchitti (keys),
Michael O’Brien (bass),
Rodrigo Ursaia (flute and sax),
Michael Rorby (trombone),
Pam Steeber and Iara Negretti (vocals)

-----

Lafer’s career spans two decades and he has collaborated with numerous renowned American jazz musicians including the Pizzarelli family, Howard Alden, Jack Wilkins, Mike Clark, Ken Peplowski, Ehud Asherie, Warren Vaché, Chuck Redd, and Brazilian artists Dori Caymmi, Sandro Albert, and Toninho Horta (Horta co-wrote three songs on Gimme 5 and played on three others including the five bonus tracks), as well as with pop-leaning artists such as Omar Hakim, Bashiri Johnson, Lionel Cordew, Derrick Murdock, and Darryl Tookes. Lafer’s discography pays tribute to the American Songbook and 60’s/70’s popular music, along with Brazilian rhythms and gems from the “Radio Days"; he has over one hundred original compositions that were recorded by himself and other artists.