Rhythmic Cantuaria at Bakery

Brazilian guitarist-singer Vinicius Cantuaria brought only a four-piece band to the Jazz Bakery on Tuesday, but there were times when it sounded like a full percussion ensemble. Which, in fact, it was on occasion -- notably when trumpeter Michael Leonhart and bassist Paul Socolow picked up various hand percussion instruments to join in the rhythmic turbulence stirred up by the great Brazilian drummer Paulo Braga.

Add to that the fact that Cantuaria’s guitar playing has been distinctly impacted by his own start as a percussionist, a role he still plays occasionally. The result was a performance of great melodic and harmonic subtlety, energized by multilayered textures of rhythmic propulsion.

In one or two numbers -- Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Corcovado” was a good example -- Cantuaria’s voice and softly strummed guitar were backed by simple, rhythmic handclaps from Socolow and Braga. On other numbers, his accompaniment was galvanized by the crisp rhythms of pandeiros (Brazilian tambourines) played by Braga and Leonhart behind his vocals.

The differing textures provided an ideal accompaniment for Cantuaria’s soft-spoken vocals and harmonically lush guitar playing during a set without verbal explanation or even the announcement of a song title. Clearly, Cantuaria intended for the music to speak on its own terms. As it did.

An epic rendering of “Procissao,” with Leonhart’s trumpet surfacing through the rhythm, recalled post-’70s Miles Davis sounds.

Cantuaria’s rendition of Jobim’s “Ele E Carioca” contemporized the tender sounds of the bossa nova. All of it was delivered with a subtle blending of jazz spontaneity and Brazilian rhythmic vigor -- an irresistible combination.

*

Vinicius Cantuaria

Where: Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City

When: 8 and 9:30 p.m. today through Saturday

Price: $25

Info: (310) 271-9039