Courage
Milton Nascimento
1968
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1969, Courage is the second studio album by singer and songwriter Milton Nascimento and marked his international debut, being a fundamental milestone for the global projection of his career. Recorded in the United States, the album presents an innovative fusion of rich Brazilian musical tradition with sophisticated jazz textures and exuberant orchestral arrangements, creating a distinctive sound that differentiated it both from declining bossa nova and emerging Tropicalismo. The work highlights Milton Nascimento's unmistakable voice, an expressive and, at times, ethereal baritone, with an impressive four-octave vocal range, which he uses as an orchestral instrument, often with wordless vocalisation (scat). The album was acclaimed as a "masterpiece" by critics, with some admirers considering it the best in his discography, for its magnificent execution of songs that would become classics. This work not only introduced Milton to foreign audiences but also solidified his unique musical style, paving the way for future experimentation and defining a new standard for Brazilian Popular Music.
Context
The release of Courage occurred during an effervescent and challenging period for Brazil. In 1968, the country was living under a military dictatorship, a scenario of intense political repression and censorship, where popular music often served as a form of protest, albeit veiled. In this context, MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) was consolidating itself as a movement that, unlike Tropicalismo with its more experimental and provocative aesthetic, frequently sought inspiration in folkloric roots and maintained a predominantly acoustic sound, with often oblique political messages. For Milton Nascimento, 1968 was a crucial year. Following the success of his eponymous debut album, known as Milton Nascimento (Travessia), from 1967, and his notable participations in music festivals, he was already an ascendant figure in the Brazilian scene. It was at this moment that producer and arranger Eumir Deodato, enchanted by Milton's voice, recognised his international potential and introduced him to the influential producer Creed Taylor. Taylor, equally impressed, decided to take him to record an album in the United States, targeting the global market and establishing Courage as Milton's bridge to worldwide recognition.
Recording
The recording sessions for Courage took place in New Jersey, United States, between December 1968 and February 1969. The album was produced by Creed Taylor, a legendary figure in the jazz and instrumental music scene, and featured sound engineering by the renowned Rudy Van Gelder, known for his impeccable work and for capturing the sonic complexity of orchestral arrangements. The arrangements and orchestral conducting were handled by Brazilian maestro Eumir Deodato, who created exuberant soundscapes, combining jazz elements with Brazilian melodic sensibility. The recording brought together a stellar cast of musicians, including the iconic Herbie Hancock on piano, percussionist Airto Moreira, bassist Ron Carter, and flautist Hubert Laws, among other jazz talents, who contributed to the richness and sophistication of the album's sound. Milton's vocal complexity and Deodato's arrangements demanded precise recording technique from Van Gelder, resulting in a three-dimensional and organic sound that enhanced Milton's voice and the clarity of the instruments.
Songs
Courage presents a collection of significant compositions by Milton Nascimento, many of them in collaboration with his long-time partners, such as Fernando Brant, Márcio Borges, and Ronaldo Bastos, as well as contributions from Danilo Caymmi and Paul Williams. The album stands out for blending songs in Portuguese, English versions, and even purely melodic vocalizations, where Milton's voice transcends verbal language. The opening track, "Bridges (Travessia)", is emblematic. An English version of the classic "Travessia", it became one of the album's centrepieces, projecting Milton's name onto the global music scene with its engaging melody and majestic arrangement. Other notable songs include "Vera Cruz", with its intricate jazz texture, "Três Pontas", which evokes Minas Gerais sensibility, "Outubro", an emotional partnership with Fernando Brant, and "Morro Velho", a solo composition by Milton of great lyrical depth. The reinterpretation of "Canção do Sal", previously performed by Elis Regina in 1966, and the vocal experimentation on "Catavento", which features rhythmic vocalisation and scats, demonstrate Milton Nascimento's versatility and artistic depth in this pioneering work.
Legacy
Courage is widely recognised as an indelible milestone in Milton Nascimento's trajectory and in the history of Brazilian and world music. Specialised critics classified it as a "masterpiece", with publications like AllMusic even considering it, for many admirers, the best album of his career. The album established a "visionary and permanent reference monument" for progressive acoustic music and for the dynamic use of the voice, expanding the horizons of global music and breaking the conventional barriers of Latin music. Its audacity in fusing Minas Gerais traditions with the New York jazz avant-garde paved the way for a vast range of creative expressions, from progressive jazz-fusion to modern art-pop. Courage is often pointed to as the cornerstone that solidified Milton Nascimento's artistic vision and prepared the ground for his future classic, Clube da Esquina, from 1972. The enduring influence of the album is such that, decades after its release, artists like American clarinetist and saxophonist Eddie Daniels released tribute albums, such as "To Milton With Love", recreating the entirety of Courage, testifying to its relevance and timelessness in the musical landscape.
Analyses
Discogs
Courage – Discogs
discogs.com