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Amoroso & Brasil |
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Amoroso & Brasil
Contained on one compact disc are two complete recordings by Brazilian singer and guitarist Joao Gilberto.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: GILBERTO,JOAO
Title: AMOROSO/BRASIL
Street Release Date: 09/14/1993
Domestic
Genre: BRAZILIAN
Amoroso & Brasil Accessories
Amoroso & Brasil Reviews
"Joâo Gilberto invented a new style of singing, with sharp precision, a minimum of volume and a maximum of cool swing. With his soft natural voice, he became not only the most important Brazilian musician ever but one of the world's most original and influential vocalists. The samba beat, which formerly required an entire section of percussionists, was condensed into the simple action of Joâo strumming his guitar." ~ Nelson Motta ~
With Johnny Mandel and Claus Ogerman, two of the most brilliant arrangers and orchestrators the music world has ever known, Joâo Gilberto is in very good hands on these recordings. Having earned multiple Grammy awards, both arrangers have proven their worth in the field of arranging and orchestration with their respective bodies of work that define brilliance and ingenuity. They have never failed to impress the listeners.
A Grammy award winner, Joâo Gilberto is a household name when it comes to Bossa Nova music. His most celebrated recordings include his debut album Chega De Saudade (1958), Getz/Gilberto (1965), Amoroso (1977) and Brasil (1981). He has collaborated with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz, Caetano Veloso and Astrud Gilberto, among many others.
The first eight tracks on this disc are from his Amoroso album that he collaborated with drummers Grady Tate and Joe Correro, bassist Jim Hughart, keyboardist Ralph Grierson, and arranger Claus Ogerman who spotlessly conducted the orchestra. It is on these tracks that Joâo Gilberto shows off not only his "soft natural voice," but also the "simple action of strumming his guitar." And this is evident among the album's centerpieces that are all synonymous to lovely Brazilian serenade such as "Caminhos Cruzados," "Wave" and "Triste." He also takes a Spanish gem of a song "Besame Mucho" and an Italian jazz staple "Estate" and gives whole new charming renditions that make them so endearing to one's ears.
The last six tracks are from the album Brasil. They are showcases of Johnny Mandel's superb arrangements that Joâo Gilberto executed in flawless fashion with the support of Milcho Leviev, Michael Boddicker (synthesizer), Clare Fisher (keyboards), Paulinho da Costa (percussion), Joe Correro (drums), Jim Hughart (bass) and a String section made up of skilled violinists, flutists, harpist, cellists, and viola players. His special guests include such Bossa Nova icons as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethânia. As always, like Johnny Mandel's projects with other singers, the brilliant arranger brought out the very best in what Joâo Gilberto has to offer and infused an overwhelming beauty to "Aquarela Do Brasil" and "Disse Alguém," a Portuguese version of "All Of Me."
This disc represents one of the most significant pieces of music in the history of vocal jazz. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any music lover who greatly appreciates Brazilian jazz recorded in the loveliest settings.
As the author of the disc's Liner Notes, Nelson Motta ends with his well-written and agreeable estimation of Joâo Gilberto's rightful place in the music world.
"On 'Amoroso' and 'Brasil,' Joâo Gilberto can be savored in all his glory as the inventor and master of a groundbreaking style of singing and guitar playing. Most importantly, however, he is the artist who, through the sensual elegance and delicacy of his voice, brought the romantic essence of Brazilian music to the world."
This bottom line about Joao Gilberto is that no one will ever stop anything from rushing a melody like his voice can.
If that wasn't enough, his guitar and his glorious compositions are stellar, his renditions of Brazilian classics and Claus Ogerman's strings, in Amoroso, are without a blemish.
This is two-albums-in-one kind of thing, and for a change, you get two momentous albums. The second half, Joao shares the studio with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Maria Bethania, which guarantees that Brasil--the second album--is a treat, one of those occasions that thankfully gets recorded.
As big as Caetano and the rest of Tropicalia's first row are, the music is a pledge to Gilberto, nothing is more important than the Bossa he sings, right now, so many years ago.
i will focus on the brasil part in this review. as other reviewers have noted, joao was at his finest on some amoroso tracks but the production is unbearable at times.
the voices on brasil are familiar to anyone who is a fan of brazilian music: gilberto gil, caetano veloso, joao gilberto, and maria bethania are among the greatest superstars all time of brazilian music individually. and on this album they all come together to play joao gilberto's style of music. i'm not sure about bethania but gil and caetano were avid joao fans. however they had never tried to replicate his sound. tropicalia's musical influences certainly included joao but were nothing like his music. in this 1981 release, we here straight bossa nova. joao plays beautifully. the production at times is not optimal but at other times is excellent. hearing gil and caetano sing in such a restrained, soft fashion is impressive considering the vocals that they had used in their career up to that point.
anyways, this album certainly pays tribute to brasil and brazilian music. disse alguem, the simons and marks jazz standard all of me in portuguese lyrics, is the one exception. the vocals are stunning, the bossa rhythms crisp and refreshing, the sound soft as can be. this is one of my favorite albums.
Fantastic CD. Great orchestrations and concept. Wonderful songs. Singer creates a nice mood and has interesting rhythmic concept of deliberately not staying exactly with the beat at times.
Joao Gilberto (b. 1931) first came on to the scene with his debut album of 1958 titled "Chega de Saudade", introducing a new style of jazz samba called bossa nova. Gilberto is credited as the innovator of the bossa nova sound that sprung to life out of Brazil. We all likely own the 1965 classic Getz/Gilberto album, featuring his then wife Astrud on vocals along with Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
This album is good to own because you get two albums for the price of one, Gilberto's "Amoroso" (1976) and "Brasil" (1981). These albums showcase Joao in his prime, vibrant and full of life. "Brasil" is a much more accessible album to listen to than the previous selection, and showcases fellow Brazilian musicians Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. What an album to relax to and forget about life.
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