Customer Reviews

Antonio Brasileiro

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Antonio Brasileiro is a wonderful, essential collection of diverse sounds. This album is certainly directed more towards an American audience than other releases with Jobim. It's a very sultry, light, blissful collection of tunes. "So Danco Samba" is very reminiscent of earlier Tom Jobim releases with a new twist that makes it fun and adorable. Background vocals are emphasized more on this ablum than other Jobim albums. In general the album is light, relaxing, happy, and optimistic. Ex-Policer, Sting, makes a guest appearance on "How Insensitive (Insensatez)." Sting does a nice job, but I think he's a bit out of place on the album. There are some tunes on the album which have more of a general jazz sound than what I think of as "Bossa Nova." For example, "Blue Train." The tune "Samba de Maria Luiza" is adorable and includes a guest appearance by a little girl, which I believe is Jobim's daughter. The album cover includes beautiful photographs of wildlife and landscape scenes of Brazil.

This is the most memorable and beautiful album recorded by Jobim and I am delighted that he left this lovely legacy which makes up for the horrible collaborative last recording that featured a cast if thousands (among them, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Gal Costa, Jon Hendricks, etc. plus Jobim's voice demonstrates his ill health) and left this listener cold and empty.

Several of the homespun reviewers identified the little girl, Maria Luiza, as his daughter. She is, I believe, his grandchild and daughter to either Paulo or Daniel Jobim. This is something that needs to be properly addressed because there are no liner notes nor translations to the lyrics.

I would give this album ten (10) stars if it were possible.

This album is full of Jobim's best. My favorite song is "Querida", in which a deceptively sunny, gentle melody flows under heartbreaking lyrics. I'm just learning Portuguese, and I'm amazed at the contrast between so many of Jobim's smooth, lovely melodies and the depth of the feelings that the words reveal. "Blue Train" is drenched in sun. Jobim sings two songs with his daughter, and Sting shows up on "How insensitive", singing it very nicely in English.Every time I listen to this CD, I hear something new. He is the best.

Tom Jobim Is a Master of the artform he espouses. There is no better example of his incredible talent and creative genius than this particular album. He is the Picasso of music.

If you love Tom Jobim, you must get this one. "Maracangalha" has my Brasilian in-laws dancing and in tears whenever they visit us and I play this tune. "Samba de Maria Luiza" is a quick classic, Jobim sings with his 5 year old daughter, and at the end of the song, she asks to "do it again", only to hear his classic line, "no talking, we're recording". Don't forget, Sting sings on "How Insensative".

This CD is one of the best I've ever heard. Songs like Pato Preto and Querida just sum up what Jobim was all about. I certainly miss him...

I bought this CD when it first came out over 15 years ago, and I have to say that it has wonderful staying power. It still sounds as fresh and vital today as it did 15 years ago. It is a fitting tribute to the genius of Tom Jobim and his valuable contribution to our culture. What a beautiful soul he was.

There is a lovely and rich variation of color, rhythm, volume, energy and tempo to the pieces making up this recording; it keeps the listener interested and wanting more.

It's a challenge to pick out highlights from this CD because nearly every tune is compelling. Just scratching the surface, some favorites are "Querida," "Meu amigo Radamés," "Pato Preto," "Surfboard"...wait, I'd better stop or I'll name all the pieces. It's that hard to choose. But leaning to the personal and sentimental, I have to say that the last strain of "Meu amigo Radamés" is utterly captivating and ethereal, with orchestration and layers of sound that would make Mozart proud.

If you have any interest in great art, go way out of your way to buy this CD. You'll be happy to have it as part of your collection. It's a great companion on long drives, in the quiet and solitude of your home/office, or as a feel-good enabler at a social occasion.

This album is certainly my "Querida"

I was loaned this CD by a friend. From the moment I plugged it in, I really liked it. My favorite songs are Maria Luiza and Forever Green. Very fun.