Astrud Gilberto Music

It was a total accident that I got this CD, but it is one of my favorite jazz CDs. I was looking for smooth vocal work by Astrud Gilberto and had never heard of trombonist Mukai. But once it was cranked up in the stereo, I was hooked! I heartily recommend this CD! GREAT JAZZ!

It was a total accident that I got this CD, but it is one of my favorite jazz CDs. I was looking for smooth vocal work by Astrud Gilberto and had never heard of trombonist Mukai. But once it was cranked up in the stereo, I was hooked! I heartily recommend this CD! GREAT JAZZ!

If you're attuned to her approach to jazz as a bossa nova-lite/ pop-hybrid, no Astrud Gilberto CD can be all bad. These songs are all available elsewhere(and since the CD booklet here has nothing much to offer, you might want to stick with the actual albums), but her version of "Holiday" really IS jazzy and the opener "Beginnings" is fabulously funky. She's dreamy and intimate when she has to be, but Astrud also swings surprisingly well and this compilation captures a piece of that excitement. 'B'

As a massive Astrud fan I was attracted by the number of titles on this collection that I'd not previously heard - on the first listen I realised why they'd escaped my attention for so long. A few of the tracks are hallmark Astrud, a few are 'bad' Astrud and a few are just awful in every way. Even the sleeve notes refer to several of the tracks very negatively which begs the question - what is the point? Astrud had moments of sheer genius, some points of popular appeal and some moments of absolute dodginess - unfortunately if you listened to this album your impression of AG would be a second rate, cover version crooner. Avoid this recording and stick to The Silver Collection or the awesome Verve Jazz Masters CD to hear Astrud Gilberto's inadvertent genius in all it's glory.

This cd is a great introduction to the artist's work. It covers nearly all of the major phases of Astrud's career. Astrud has a sweet, almost sulky voice that you can easily fall in love with. She never complains through her music, she just quietly reflects. Highlights include her cover of Chicago's 'Beginnings'....A seemingly odd choice of material, but she completly makes the song her own. Immediatley followed by her powerful 'On my mind'....great classic 60's Astrud sound. 'Stay' Is also another sure hit...from the liner notes.."Little waves lap against the shore each one letting loose a faint hiss of static swoosh, then, surrendering to another wave. A new wave. Bossa novea. And the new wave sings its own song, lulling the beached tourist to sleep, to sizzle in the sun. Out of the beachgoers trebly transister radio, another new wave sings, an airy Brazilian voice with piping flutes, mingling with the sound of the sea:'Staaaaaay, and we'll make such sweet music.....'" also, "She's the girl with the faraway voice. The passion of the dispassionate. She's lovely, but she's elsewhere, thinking about something or someone else."...... there are very few singers in the world who are able to 'create' atmosphere..Astrud Gilberto is one of the best.

I feel like I grew up with Astrud. She appeared on the music scene while I was attending high school in the sixties and her clear distinctive voice has always been part of my life but I've developed a real thirst for something new and exciting. Well here it is! "Temperance" opens with "How High the Moon" featuring Astrud and the New York Voices. Wow! It's all there! The arrangement on this track is really superb and the tambourine near the end makes this recording send sparks down my spine every time I play it. One listen and I want more.

The cool part is you DO get more great tracks on this CD. My favorites include "Let yourself go" which features nifty progressions in the background. Its one of Astrud's own compositions as are all the other tunes on this CD with the exception of "How High the Moon." I liked both renditions of "There's Light" (Mark Lambert and Astrud each do one) on back-to-back tracks. This CD is published in Japan but if you are an Astrud thirsty fan like I am its worth the wait to get an imported copy.