Bossa Nova Music

Every time you play this album, the exhuberant music screams Brasil!!!
You can picture yourself walking on Ipanema beach singing Mas Que Nada.
This is your typical Sergio Mendes album (which by typical I mean superb), full of percussions, keyboards, vocal assemblies, and that ability to encapsule what Brasil is in a simple disc.
His guests for this musical treasure, are amazing; check the list:

- Sergio Mendes / Keyboards
- Carlos Vega / Drums
- Paul Jackson Jr. / Guitars
- Jeff Porcaro / Drums
- Alan Pasqua / Synthesizers
- Nathan East / Bass Guitar
- Alex Acuna / Drums
- Dori Caymmi / Acoustic Guitar
- Paulinho Da Costa / Percussions
- Gracinha Leporace / Vocals
- Dan Huff / Guitars
- Kevyn Lettau / Vocals
- Robbie Buchanan / Keyboards
- Portinho / Percussions
- Jimmy Johnson / Bass Guitar
- Luis Conte / Percussions
- Joe Pizzulo / Vocals
- Vinnie Colaiuta / Drums
etc.
etc.

Don't miss out on this "now classic" album by one of the best musical embassadors that Brasil's ever given.
Classics like (Mas Que Nada),(The Island - song that inspired Barbara Streisand to also perform Ivan Lins' song), (Night Life) and (Cinnamon and Clove) aired heaviliy during the late 80's and early 90's, and the music still sounds so fresh like it was recorded this year.

P.S. One more thing, this Amazon page doesn't reflect the tracks:
1. Sarara (Bring me the Sunlight)
2. Mas Que Nada
3. Some Morning
4. Nightlife
5. Cinnamon and Clove (Cravo E Canela)
6. Balafon
7. Surrender
8. Keep This Heart
9. Toucan's Dance (Instrumental)
10. The Island

This two-CD set includes one of the most historically important jazz LPs in Getz/Gilberto and a very good follow-up in Jazz Samba; the two LPs both include "Desafinado"; other than that, there is no overlap in material.

While Getz/Gilberto is justifiably one of the best-known jazz LPs ever-recorded, I was struck by how ragged it is at times. Astrud Gilberto's singing, in particular, displays a pretty poor sense of rhythm, and neither she nor Joao Gilberto has much of a voice. It surprised me that the musicianship was noticeably better on Jazz Samba.

The real reasons for giving this only four stars, however, are the packaging and the price. There are two CDs here, but there's really only enough material for one. Even with the 45 rpm singles versions of "The Girl From Ipanema", "Corcovado", and "Desafinado", which seem just to be cut and spliced from the LP versions, the music comes in under 75 minutes. The package was issued in Korea, and the notes are nearly entirely in Hangul. There is a reprint of the notes from the original Getz/Gilberto LP, but it is all but illegible.

The price, moreover, is much too high for a reissue of two LPs. Those who want a CD version of only one of the LPs can find one for far less money (and including the 45 rpm singles issues) , and buying separate CD versions of both will run to less money than this package.

Early Chico Buarque, 23 songs, includes gems such as Samba de Orly and Cordao. Too bad the sound is not up to par.

Early Chico Buarque, 23 songs, includes gems such as Samba de Orly and Cordao. Too bad the sound is not up to par.

I was introduced to the music of Elis Regina in 1990 at The By Brazil Restaurant in Torrance California. My friend name Julio made me a tape of about 15 songs by her. I loved her then, and I love her EVEN MORE TODAY! I've never told anybody this before but, her music is so beautiful it makes me feel so good! so alive! It's full of pain,joy, happiness and this CD has it all! I cry everytime I hear her sing. It's very difficult typing this review without crying.When you visit Brazil you'll know what I'm talking about. I know it sounds weird, but that's how I feel about her and her music. I was surfing the web the other day, and type her name in one of those search boxes, I was shocked to see a website devoted to her. I surfed on over to you guys for more information. I have 10 CD's by her and didn't realize all the music she recorded. I swear "I will have everything she made" About this CD, what can I say? I have it already! It is great! It's Elis at her Best! One final thought, if your readers ever get a chance to go to Brazil, visit her Birth Place and read her Biography.

Ate Logo!

The only reason I wouldn't give this 5 stars is because of the release date: 1975. There are another 5 years of incredible singing that she recorded between this record and her death. But if you want a historical sampling of deer Elis' evolution from the spunky bossa nova singing teenager of the early 1960s to the incredible superstar of the 1970s this is a good path to follow. You will want to track down her post 1975 material, though, to really appreciate the artist she became in her short life.

The second part of the cd done in the studio is some of the best music I have heard. This is very emotional heart wrenching music. The full spectrum of emotions are here, from ecstatic joy to extreme sadness. She was the best.

I also think you can hear the influence she had on Jazz Pianist/Vocalist Tanya Maria also from Brazil.

For the best of, buy "Aquarela do Brasil" and "Elis and Tom".

Note to Amazon, the best songs on this CD are in the second half, which you do not let customers listen to, you only have a few songs at the start of the cd activated. You should try to pick the songs that sound the best or activate all of them.

R Browne