Sergio Mendes Music

Years ago I had an album of Quartette Tres Bien which featured mostly oldies (big band type) that were given a jazzy treatment. Very mellow and enjoyable. Wish I could find more of their music. The Sergio Mendes music was a definite bonus.
Gary Huhn

If you enjoy "lounge" music, instrumental with a twist of Latin...you definitely will enjoy this. People either like it or don't, I listened to the samples...great music, throw-back to a much simpler time, terrific for dinner parties or just relaxing.

This CD holds two albums that are related only by the fact that the leader is a pianist and they were both put out by Atlantic in the mid '60s.I own both LPs, and they have totally different sounds. If you like heavily produced, band- or orchestra-backed piano, you might like Sergio Mendes on this. The arrangement for each song depends on which of the three producers did the track. Some are reasonably gutsy, others mushy, in the style of the day. Mendes's playing is as solid as ever, although a lot is the one-finger-melody style. "Great Arrival" is nothing like "Swinger from Rio" or "Beat of Brazil" which are both (IMHO) far superior. It also has no relation to Brasil 66. Quartette Tres Bien is a piano trio plus a bongo and conga player. The extra rhythm gives the quartet some extra snap and Jeter Thompson (the pianist) has a lot going. Be aware that unlike Mendes, QTB is not playing samba-style music. More of a bop-with-rhythm sound. So, an odd combination on the CD, but you might like it if you have diverse tastes or if you're a big piano fan.

This is an instrumental rendition of many well-known Brazilian songs. Playing this CD provides a calming and sophisticated background sound to any room.

Years ago I had an album of Quartette Tres Bien which featured mostly oldies (big band type) that were given a jazzy treatment. Very mellow and enjoyable. Wish I could find more of their music. The Sergio Mendes music was a definite bonus.
Gary Huhn

If you enjoy "lounge" music, instrumental with a twist of Latin...you definitely will enjoy this. People either like it or don't, I listened to the samples...great music, throw-back to a much simpler time, terrific for dinner parties or just relaxing.

This CD holds two albums that are related only by the fact that the leader is a pianist and they were both put out by Atlantic in the mid '60s.I own both LPs, and they have totally different sounds. If you like heavily produced, band- or orchestra-backed piano, you might like Sergio Mendes on this. The arrangement for each song depends on which of the three producers did the track. Some are reasonably gutsy, others mushy, in the style of the day. Mendes's playing is as solid as ever, although a lot is the one-finger-melody style. "Great Arrival" is nothing like "Swinger from Rio" or "Beat of Brazil" which are both (IMHO) far superior. It also has no relation to Brasil 66. Quartette Tres Bien is a piano trio plus a bongo and conga player. The extra rhythm gives the quartet some extra snap and Jeter Thompson (the pianist) has a lot going. Be aware that unlike Mendes, QTB is not playing samba-style music. More of a bop-with-rhythm sound. So, an odd combination on the CD, but you might like it if you have diverse tastes or if you're a big piano fan.