Joao Gilberto Music

I can't agree with the other reviewer. I think both the Tokyo and the Montreux Jazz albums are better than this one. In fact, I think a few of the performances on this album are not all that good. I think he messes up a few of the songs, compared to other of his recorded versions (I can't bear to listen to "De Conversa em Conversa" and "O Pato" on this one). He sounds like he's out of breath; he seems to sustain notes with his voice much less than normal. In a couple of places he just plucks the guitar too hard and the strings clang very horribly.

The Tokyo album just sounds much more effortless (though he did mess up "Bolinha de Papel" there). Not to mention that it's cheaper and ships quicker.

This is not an overstatement. Much better in every way than 90% of the stuff he's released in the last 40 years. Recording quality is superb. The performances are spot-on. The guy is just swinging like crazy. Much better than "Montreaux", "Live in Tokyo" and miles beyond the "Eu sei que eu vou te amar" disaster. But it also even makes some studio recordings obsolete. The definitive version of "Malaga".
"La vem a bahiana" is a great old Dorival Caymmi tune previously unrecorded by João. The guy just keeps getting better, his voice richer, the guitar more assured, and he was in peak form this evening. You may be asking yourself, "Do I really need another version of João doing "Corcovado"? Trust me, get this and you won't be disappointed.

Alpha waves, beta waves...whatever the best ones are, they switch on instantly when Joao starts Sem Compromisso. Can I just use some of the words of Ippei from Japan from eight years ago?: "Everything that is beautiful about music is here, and I wonder how miserable it would be if I had to live without Joao. Dear WEA/ELEKTRA people, I desperately hope to hear this all. I do insist that the original DOUBLE CD TO BE REISSUED. It is a sin to hide even a single song that Joao sang in the warehouse." Wea/Elektra is still a company; can anyone who comes upon this write to them and ask about the full release? Can you write to Joao and ask the gentleman if he is aware of its status? Top five all-time desert disc -- do not miss!

I OWNED MOST OF JOAO'S ALBUMS [SOME OUT THERE WERE SIMPLY RECYCLED] BUT THIS MONTREUX ALBUM REALLY STANDS OUT. THIS IS JOAO IN HIS FINEST HOUR --- THE VOICE, THE GUITAR, THE PHRASINGS. IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED BOSSA NOVA BEFORE GIVE THIS ONE A SHOT, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

Like Thelonious Monk, like Erroll Garner, Joao Gilberto has done little to change his style over the course of his musical life. I saw him play a month ago in San Francisco, and at age 73, all that has really changed is his voice, now colored by age, but not even a great deal. He still plays with tremendous focus and ability. And, like Basie's American swing or Django's European swing, he has his own swing which is purely Brazilian and purely Gilberto. And he still prefers to be his own band, dropping even the spare drums he had in the 60s and 70s. The Montreux show is outstanding. The crowd is very receptive, and usually interrupt the first few seconds of a famous song with applause. It's a strange tradition. In typical Gilberto fashion, he mixes the oldies with some newer songs, most notably Caetano Veloso's "Menino do Rio." The other highlights (though there really aren't any lowlights) are "Morena Boca de Ouro," "Pra Que Discutir com Madame," "Sem Compromisso" and "Preconceito."

If you're looking for a simple, beautiful record of one man and his guitar, you won't find anything better than this. Such a warm intimate sound--- perfect for a summer night with someone you love.

This is one of my top 10 recordings of all time. It is History. Seeing that it is live, it is incredible...and absolutely All of the music recorded that wonderful day should be made available. How many artists can bring a packed audience to such heights with such gentleness and such grace? Very few. The way in which Joao so playfully gets the audience to join him in "Felicidade", and the utter soul-baring in "Estate" are two examples of what a true classic this is. Joao even makes "Garota de Ipanema" sound fresh and like the true classic it always will be. The booklet includes lyrics both Portugese (and Italian in the case of "Estate") with English translation. I could write a book, but just get this and hear Live Magic for yourself.

Alpha waves, beta waves...whatever the best ones are, they switch on instantly when Joao starts Sem Compromisso. Can I just use some of the words of Ippei from Japan from eight years ago?: "Everything that is beautiful about music is here, and I wonder how miserable it would be if I had to live without Joao. Dear WEA/ELEKTRA people, I desperately hope to hear this all. I do insist that the original DOUBLE CD TO BE REISSUED. It is a sin to hide even a single song that Joao sang in the warehouse." Wea/Elektra is still a company; can anyone who comes upon this write to them and ask about the full release? Can you write to Joao and ask the gentleman if he is aware of its status? Top five all-time desert disc -- do not miss!

I OWNED MOST OF JOAO'S ALBUMS [SOME OUT THERE WERE SIMPLY RECYCLED] BUT THIS MONTREUX ALBUM REALLY STANDS OUT. THIS IS JOAO IN HIS FINEST HOUR --- THE VOICE, THE GUITAR, THE PHRASINGS. IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED BOSSA NOVA BEFORE GIVE THIS ONE A SHOT, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

Like Thelonious Monk, like Erroll Garner, Joao Gilberto has done little to change his style over the course of his musical life. I saw him play a month ago in San Francisco, and at age 73, all that has really changed is his voice, now colored by age, but not even a great deal. He still plays with tremendous focus and ability. And, like Basie's American swing or Django's European swing, he has his own swing which is purely Brazilian and purely Gilberto. And he still prefers to be his own band, dropping even the spare drums he had in the 60s and 70s. The Montreux show is outstanding. The crowd is very receptive, and usually interrupt the first few seconds of a famous song with applause. It's a strange tradition. In typical Gilberto fashion, he mixes the oldies with some newer songs, most notably Caetano Veloso's "Menino do Rio." The other highlights (though there really aren't any lowlights) are "Morena Boca de Ouro," "Pra Que Discutir com Madame," "Sem Compromisso" and "Preconceito."

If you're looking for a simple, beautiful record of one man and his guitar, you won't find anything better than this. Such a warm intimate sound--- perfect for a summer night with someone you love.

This is one of my top 10 recordings of all time. It is History. Seeing that it is live, it is incredible...and absolutely All of the music recorded that wonderful day should be made available. How many artists can bring a packed audience to such heights with such gentleness and such grace? Very few. The way in which Joao so playfully gets the audience to join him in "Felicidade", and the utter soul-baring in "Estate" are two examples of what a true classic this is. Joao even makes "Garota de Ipanema" sound fresh and like the true classic it always will be. The booklet includes lyrics both Portugese (and Italian in the case of "Estate") with English translation. I could write a book, but just get this and hear Live Magic for yourself.

I love his song... it reminds me so much of Brazil... I miss my home country...