Antonio Carlos Jobim Music

If you want to hear some diverse recordings of Sharon Isbin gathered in one place for a fair price, then you have arrived. She does a good job on some of my favorites, e.g., Mallorca and Capricho Arabe, though not the best that you'll find. You'll have to listen to Norbert, Bream and Williams for the best Mallorca and other Albeniz transcriptions and to Parkening and Boyd for the best Capricho Arabe.

But what disturbs me the most about this recording is the omission of the lovely first movement (my favorite), called "Preludio", from La Catedral. What conceivable reason could there possibly be to omit this 2 minute movement? That alone cost this recording one star.

The classical guitar can struggle against the volume of an orchestra and that fact is evident in this CD. Isbin's masterful skill is often overwhelmed by the orchestra, something that perhaps could have been lessened with better remastering. Nonetheless, if you appreciate classical guitar played by a real talent, this CD is for you. The unaccompanied Latin Romances illustrate Isbin's work at its best, clean and precise with pure tonal production. Her technical mastery as well as her lyricism are often on display. I found the Schwantner composition, written at Isbin's request, somewhat heavy-handed and hard to listen to. The Rodrigo recordings, even allowing for the occasionally overwhelming orchestra, are bright and crisp. Isbin's feeling for Rodrigo's music comes through clearly in these recordings. Despite the somewhat onerous orchestations, I would recommend this CD to anyone who appreciates clear, precise, lyrical classical guitar. There's definitely enough in here to make this a worthwhile purchase. Two CD set. PS: to get the second CD out, open the inner door from the center out! I'm an engineer, and it took me several tries to figure it out (may because I'm an engineer!).

If only we wrote as eloquently as Ms. Isbin performs! From the very first note, the listener's mesmerized by the strength and honesty of her virtuoso guitar. No need for embellishment here: she performs each classical piece faithfully -- and brilliantly -- from the heart!

Isbin's playing is weak in technique, tone, interpretation, and program choice. Rodrigo's "Invocacion y danza", in particular, lacks the depth and darkness required for this piece and sounds rushed and mechanical. No need for embellishments. Those who have ears (or spmething between) will hear.

This is an impressive performance. Since I am neither a guitarist nor a scholar of the classics, I can't tell you how skilled she is compared to others like Segovia, Liona Boyd, John Williams, Chris Parkening, etc. I can't tell you whether these selections have been done better, either. All I can say is that she has produced a CD which is a joy to hear, and holds up under repeated play. A couple of years ago I bought the "Amazon Journey" CD of hers, but I was disappointed in it...too bland for me. This one is better.

Whether you're already a Sharon Isbin fan, or haven't yet heard her play, if you don't own this CD you are missing an essential piece of your collection. Road to the Sun is one of the CDs most often in my player, and it makes a great accompaniment to Journey to the Amazon, another Isbin favorite.

These are excellent performances by Sharon Isbin of works from the guitar repertoire. Even if you have other recordings of some of these works, that should not deter you from acquiring this recording, for as Sharon Isbin performs them, you may find that you're hearing them again for the very first time.

Seems like it is always implied that Bonfa plays all the guitar on this.He is only featured in a few small passages.He did compose some of the songs and Jobim/DeMoraes composed the others.Jobim does not apear at all on this soundtrack.That being said it is great stuff although not the same tunes as the original stage version from 1956.There is a cd of those songs and it is well worth having.[...]
dan

I like Manha De Carnaval so much that I listened to Domingo, Nana Mouskouri, Carly Simon and Luis Miguel's versions borrowed from the libraries. I like the original song in track 6 by Luiz Bonfa. Track 8 guitar playing is also beautiful. Track 11 female vocal is wonderful, spontaneous and second to none. The sound quality is excellent.

It's wonderful to have a new recording of the sound track from the movie Black Orpheus. The movie was one of my favorites but I played my old record of the sound track so many times (and put it through so many moves) it was scratched and no longer enjoyable to listen to. Now everytime I listen to my CD version I am transported to the time and space of the movie and the time and space of the early sixties when I first heard it. The little bonus addition at the end of the CD is fun too.

Considerada la primera película en la que se da a conocer el bosanova, "Orfeo Negro" incluye una serie de fabulosas canciones como "A felicidade", "A nosso amor" y "manha de carnaval". Al parecer los temas fueron tomados de la película, razón por la cual el audio no es el mejor. Este es un disco para coleccionistas entusiastas del bosanova pero no espere variedad ni calidad de audio. Como punto negativo encuentro que en el CD no incluyeron los nombres de los intérpretes de cada canción.

Save your money. I love the movie very much, and to watch it and to listen it is an experience like none other. However, if you look for the music from this movie, do not look here. This is just the movie, except without video. I have great respect for Bonfa and Jobim's work on this music, but they do not get glorified truly since the tracks change so quickly and the movie sounds play such a large role in the soundtrack cd. Listen to Trio da Paz and their Black Orpheus album and see how it compares, and even though it is not the original Jobim or Bonfa, it pays more homage to them than this original soundtrack. Verve took the wrong route with this one. Yes the music is landmark in evolving Samba/Bossa Nova, but this cd does not depict truly how wonderful the music is.

Oh how I wish the Canadian giant music company would provide liner notes to its great, inexpensive recordings. But that must be the price for cut rate costs. Meanwhile the recording quality of the smooth jazz recordings is always top notch you also catch some terrific professional musicians who happen to be known for session work or regionally but not super stars. For instance, the saxophonist, guitarist, and keyboard players [Ty Ardis, Jeff Lennard-who plays what?] make a terrific bossa nova album. It is not Tom Jobim in concert, but if these guys were playing a local night club-expensive restuarant or disco- you damn well would not mind waiting in line to hear them play so sensual and beautifully these classic Bossa Novas. A great bargain!

I have many many Stan Getz cds. I treasure this box set since 1990 I guess the year that I bought it. I know it by memory now, but nevertheless it always sounds fresh and superb. The quality of the music contained here can't be underestimated maybe only because it had success (something that jazz purist often do, critizise a music only because it sold big numbers). This music is something that words can't do justice. The encounter between Stan Getz and bossa nova and its artists was made in Heaven. Here superlatives are not enough believe us (believe to me and to all the other enthusiastic reviewers). It's a music so beautiful, so perfect that it flows with a divine smoothness. This music seems easy to uneducated people and they may even appreciate it just because it sounds so "simple". But it seems easy only because the musicians who played this music, Stan first, are unbelievable, superb artists. This music is amazing and really, can't change the face of a lot of your days. A lot of people allready told you what you can find here. Everything Stan recorded in bossa fashion. I only want to say that this box has inside itself a lot of happiness that the amazing music Stan and the others who played it will give you for years and years to come. Think about this, money are only paper. This box will send you shivers down your spine for years and will be a pure emotion each time you'll listen to it. What would you choose .. to have a bigger wallet or to be a happier person? I'd pay probably 1000 dollars for this music if it would be the only way to own it.

I've had a copy of this wonderful collection in my possesion in one form or another for the last thirteen years. Once I finally threw out the tattered cassettes, I moved on to this four CD set. I can't praise it enough. It's not just the well known favorites like Girl From Ipanema or Desafinado, but the whole anthology. From the quiet tones of Corcovado to Stan's incredile blowing on So Danco Samba, there's something great on nearly every track. I'm only 31 and I've introduced this CD to the boom box on many occasions around my friends more accustomed to Pearl Jam or old Ozzy and the reaction has always been the same; "Is this elevator music?" But soon they hear the same passionate soul that nearly knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts in the mid '60s (read Phil Schaap's liner notes!) and realize that there's something special here and begin to really enjoy it. It's a warm Summer barbecue or any time you need to kick up your feet after a hard day at work with a cold drink. This is something with which to either complete or begin your samba collection.

There is a line here sung by Astrud Gilberto (from an American song, but never mind) - 'I feel so gay in a melancholy way' - that sums up for me the eternal appeal of bossa nova: beach music cooled with sadness that somehow seizes your tired soul, making it feel warm and happy.

This remarkable set - which, along with 'the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook', is the only CD I intend to take to my desert island - contains the five prodigious bossa nova albums recorded by Stan Getz in the early 60s: 'Jazz Samba' (the still sparkle-fresh collaboration with Charlie Byrd that introduced bossa nova to the world); 'Big Band Bossa Nova' (a not always successful attempt to combine two mutually exclusive forms, but featuring two epic classics, 'Manha de Carnival' and 'Chega Suadade'); 'Jazz Samba Encore' (an otherworldly masterpiece with Luiz 'Black Orpheus' Bonfa and singer Maria Toldo); 'Getz/Gilberto' (my own treasured favourite, a matchless meeting of four great talents, Getz, Jobim, Joao and Astrud Gilberto) and 'Getz/Almeida' (a rigorous, last gasp jazz workout).

All the great classics are here - 'Desafinado' (will anyone ever spell this right?), 'Insensatez' (swoon), 'O Morro Nao Tem Vez', 'One note samba', 'The girl from Ipanema', 'Corcovado' etc. (you'll know them all even if you think you don't) - together with some less familiar delights. What is perhaps most exceptional is the way Getz adapts like a chameleon to the very different needs of his various collaborators, and yet still retains the distinctive, emotional sax genius we know and love.

There are some extra tracks included as well, including Getz's only collaboration with Baden-Powell, some live numbers with the Gilbertos, and an absolutely blissful, happysad 'It might as well be spring', the only track I've ever heard that actually DOES sound like spring.

Ran into this a couple years ago at the public library and hit the Bossa Nova mother lode. Realized that it would make a perfect gift and serendipitously found it on special sale. Should've bought all the copies I could!

This has to be one of the best box sets ever, both from a musical and an archival point of view. Since the other reviewers have described so well the contents of this collection, I only want to exhort you, the prospective buyer, to keep a sharp eye out for an opportunity to grab it at a favorable price.

In the meantime, let's hope Verve prints more copies. This is music that will never go out of style.

After having having foolishly traded away my vinyl copy, (origianlly released on 5 LP's) I was delighted to find this CD reissue. This is the only place to find Getz's entire Verve output of Samba and Bosa Nova recordings. The first disc is comprised of Getz's collaboration with the late great Jazz/Samba guitarist, Charlie Byrd and contains the classic Antonio Carlos Jobim compostion, Desafino. Disc two finds Getz in the company of Brizil's premier Samba vocalist Joao Gilberto. The combination of Getz's velvety smooth tenor and Gilberto's elegantly cool vocal stylings makes for an astonishing match made in Samba Heaven. Songs from this historic pairing include the highly recognizable The Girl From Impanema and the hypnotic Samba De Uma Nota So, (One Note Samba).

Disc three covers the Getz/Astrid Gilberto hits and includes the lovely Corcovado and It Might As Well Be Spring as well as the enormous international hit, The Girl From Impanema, (not to be confused with the Getz/Joao Gilberto version). This is the recording that put Bosa Nova on the map and caused a huge sensation from Brazil to Japan and all stops in between. As undeniably the biggest hit ever to come out of South America, The Girl From Impenema has been recorded by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald. The many other highlights found here include Getz in the company of an allstar jazz lineup on the Big Band Bosa Nova sides. While this may be too much material for the casual fan to digest, I suggest you begin with the Getz/Joao Gilberto album. If you find yourself hooked and yearning for more, go directly to this anthology it's worth the time and money.