Paulo César Baptista Faria — Paulinho da Viola ("Paulinho of the guitar") to his friends and fans — came to music through his father, César Faria, guitarist for the noted choro ensemble Época de Ouro. Against family wishes that he study philosophy, medicine or engineering, da Viola surreptitiously taught himself on his father's guitar, a story retold on his "14 Anos." The old man relented before his son's determination, and da Viola soon joined a local samba escola as a composer, eventually being invited to assume that role for the renowned Velha Guarda da Portela, thereby becoming one of the genre's greats. Indeed, music endures as a family tradition; here the senior Faria consents to a guitar-and-vocal duet with da Viola on "Chora, Cavaquinho" and — joined by son João Rabello — an instrumental trio essaying the da Viola favorite "Rosinha, Essa Menina." The soundtrack of a biographical film of the same name, Meu Tempo É Hoje (My Time Is Today, a Wilson Baptista samba) conveys that unquenched longing Brazilians call saudade. Take Marisa Monte's plaintive interpretation of the Pixinguniha classic "Carinhoso," with a most understated guitar and vocal accompaniment by da Viola; Amélia Rabello's delicate interplay with the master on his own "Ruas De Sonhei" or the exquisite female vocal trio of Íris, Julieta and Eliane Faria (presumably family) on "Pra Fugar Da Saudade." Longstanding singing partner Elton Medeiros contributed the latter, and joins da Viola on an affectionate medley of several more Medeiros compositions Collaborators of late, Brazil's foremost choro-jazz ensemble Nó em Pingo D'Água (look for their da Viola tribute album) accompanies on his own "Um Sarau Para Raphael." Other guests include samba singer Zeca Pagodinho and a festive Velha Guarda da Portela, celebrating its master composer After all, and true to his art, da Viola has become a philosopher of a higher existential order. To paraphrase the quietly defiant lyrics of "Filosofia" (the Noel Rosa masterpiece), da Viola sings, 'The world condemns me and no one's at fault; they speak badly of me and declare that I will die of thirst or hunger. Philosophy helps me live for today, indifferent to their judgements… Well, I live by singing in this world, vagabond slave to my samba'. This is a sublime recording by one of Brazil's enduring national cultural treasures, a profoundly humane artist whose time, indeed, is now. —Michael Stone, fRoots