Bossa Nova Music

This is a wonderful dvd. The playing and songs are beautiful. I'd just like to clear up that there are no licks covered on the dvd- even though it says "lick samples." This is strictly chords and progressions.

For several years I've been trying to learn Brazilian guitar on my own, with very mixed results. I've struggled with other books and videos, which I've found overly-complicated or, in the case of chords and chord progressions, frankly misleading. Well, this DVD is different. In slow, deliberate fashion, Brazilian jazz master Romero Lubambo demonstrates a series of ascending and descending chord sequences that, I guarantee, will have newbies slapping their heads and muttering "so that's how it's done." He doesn't solo or demonstrate entire songs, except for a couple of performances with members of his renowned Trio da Paz, and with his vocalist wife Pamela Driggs. So advanced guitarists looking to learn the bossa nova repertoire won't get as much out of this DVD as those simply trying to understand the basics of the genre. And that leads me to my one quibble with the DVD. The accompanying booklet includes helpful transcriptions of the lessons by members of the Japanese team that produced the DVD. But why couldn't they include a CHORD CHART!?! Bossa nova chords are voiced very differently from American jazz chords and it would have been extremely helpful to learn the chords first, before watching the DVD. Oh well, this is still a terrific DVD for guitarists who want to penetrate the mysteries of this beautiful music. Thank you, Mr. Lubambo!

Can't say enough good things about this instructional DVD. Mr Lubambo is very likeable as instructor, and the lessons progress at a challenging, but not impossible rate from basic to fairly advanced. If you are a guitarist who has gotten in a bit of a rut with the ordinary type chords and progressions this is a great way to expand your horizons . Learning the context for many of the chords is another benefit. A great way to get the basics of a beautiful and melodic musical style.

Well, here we have another album to be poured into the "west coast", or Californian sound genre (today's critics and marketers would probably call it AOR, Adult Oriented Rock).

Michael Sembello is primarily known for his mega hit "Maniac", from the Flashdance film. And indeed it proved to be a powerful tune. I remember even buying the 12 inch mega version of the song. A very tonic and enthusiastic track that you can still hear today. "Maniac" is included in this cd, so for people who want the song, this is a justifiable purchase. But, what else is there on this collection ? In my opinion, a bunch of fun, unpretentious songs (just look a the backsleeve cover, Michael Sembello in shorts, without shoes, two suitcases and a Panama hat setting the mood) from the early eighties. Simple, to the point music; most of the tracks are one word titled. Lots of keyboards, powerful drumming, good bass and some electric guitarwork (not from Steve Lukather though). My favourites are Automatic Man, Cowboy, It's over and Talk for the ballad side. But I can listen to the whole thing with pleasure because, even if some tracks may sound silly, this is just an unpretentious album, as I said before. Carlitos Vega plays on most of the songs, as well as Paulinho da Costa, and SIR George Duke makes a stellar appearance on one track, so if you like these people and are a collector you'll want this album.

All in all, a very pleasant cd if you like David Pack (Anywhere you go) or Bobby Caldwell (Cat in the Hat, Carry on) or even Toto. If you push a little bit, some of Gino Vannelli's stuff gets close to this too. It's the same sound, same type of instruments and same type of production (the man here in charge is Phil Ramone). A real pity that the rest of Michael's career wasn't quite as inspired and prolific. I think he has a very distinctive and personal voice, he just should have been more present and regular... You can occasionally find the album "Without Walls" (at an outrageous price though) or a more recent one called "Ancient future" (with a beautiful slow version of "Maniac"). If you like Sembello, you can listen to "As we speak" from David Sanborn, in which he participated.

Bossanova hotel is a five star in context, but gets down to 4 because of its outdated side for today's listeners who will find it corny, and because it is only 40 minutes long (or short). But if you get it and like the people I mentioned, you will definitely enjoy it!

Familiar with him from the AMAZING 'Maniac' and then on a David Sanborn alburm whence he sang a couple of tunes. He just has 'one of those voices' and appears a bit too modest on the guitar. I warm more and more to this album with each listen.

I first bought this album on cassette back in '83 and I still listen to it. The album cover is kinda of stupid, but as they say, don't judge a book by the cover. Worth every penny. Some gems on this album, TALK, LAYBACK, IT'S OVER, FIRST TIME.

This is a perfrectly grand compilation of Brasil's classic Bossa Nova from the vaults of Verve/Universal. It is not volume 2, or 11, but the cipher is two palm trees growing next to one another!