Letters to Grace is a song cycle filled with the Brazilian spirit of longing — with the spirit of Saudade in Portuguese, which can contain both sorrow and joy. Long melodic lines searching for dissonance, the consistency of the harmonies, and an obstinate sense of rhythmic syncopation are part of this spirit, and are also prominent features of Cassio’s music.

In this album, Cassio’s compositions and lyrics, the poetry of Lacey Caligure and Donna Henderson, the magnificent vocal performance of Sherry Alves, and the performances of a team of first-rate musicians from Brazil and the US unite to deliver these letters to you, in the form of sambas, bossas, waltzes and ballads.

Cassio Vianna

I miss the old letters. Handwritten, nearly naked. The shaky script conveys truths that transcend and suffuse the literal sense of the line. I miss the ache of regret that followed every letter sent; miss the sleepless longing to receive them. Then, the wonder which followed, reading each with a smile in the corner of the lips, as though hearing the very voice of the one who has written. Miss the ritual question: Do you have a letter for me today? I miss what I hoped to read in those letters. Although the letters were only letters, they held the universe within them. I read and reread them endlessly. Endlessly— until the next one arrived to become my new, infinite universe.

Today, electronic letters cross the skies in seconds. No longer shaky, no longer naked. But they still contain the same truths, still convey the same longing—for loves lost and renewed, for dubious certainties and definite uncertainties, for innocent lies and secret truths, for the impossible desire and the realized dream, for the goodbye never said and the reunion at last achieved. Letters smell of rain.

(Translated from the Portuguese by Donna Henderson)

Musicians

Sherry Alves (vocals)

Tom Bergeron (alto sax and flute)

Keller Coker (trombone)

Cassio Vianna (piano, keyboard, melodica)

Jose Neto (acoustic guitar)

Christopher Woitach (acoustic guitar)

Adam Bates (vibraphone)

Wagner Trindade (electric bass)

Flavio Santos (drums and percussion)

Produced by Cassio Vianna and Keller Coker

Assistant Producer: Wagner Trindade

Acknowledgements

All my gratitude to Tom and Rosi Bergeron: my last two years would not have been the same without you; to Richard Sutliff, for all your care and support; to my dear friend Lacey Caligure, for contributing to this work since its very beginning; to Keller Coker and Wagner Trindade for your great ideas and for sharing the production of this album with me; to my dear musicians friends in Brazil and in Oregon: Adam Bates, Christopher Woitach, Flavio Santos and José Neto, thanks for your generous contribution to this recording; to Carlos Machado and Jason Carter for your excellentwork; to Don Latarski and Bene Maldonado for your competence and dedication; toCheryl McLean for your beautiful and sensitive work; to Bethany Glasscock and her family: thank you for opening your hearts to me and for letting me in; to all my old friends in Brazil and my new ones in Oregon.

Special thanks

• to Donna Henderson, whose work in this album goes far beyond the technical descriptions here: thank you for gifting me with your art, patience, partnership, and unconditional friendship;

• to Sherry Alves, your marvelous voice brings beauty and truth to my songs. Thank you for being part of this project!