Customer Reviews

Astrud Gilberto Plus James Last

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This collaboration with James Last and his orchestra is Astrud Gilberto's finest moment, an absolutely wonderful piece of music. The lush, eclectic instrumentation is complemented by her singing, sometimes criticized as being pretty but plain, unrangy, and without depth. On this recording, she retains a subdued aura but certainly shows versatility, jazziness, and occasionally passion, if not intensity. But blending, not dominant, vocals are needed for this lovely music, and it is the instrumentation that is more captivating.

Two Brazilian Bossa Nova standards are included: the bright and cheerful "Samba do Soho" and the dry "Agua de Beber." But there is much more. The best song is the precious "Listen to Your Heart," an exquisitely textured composition by Ron Last. A radiant xylophone-driven motif is complemented by other beautiful instrumentation and very pretty male/female harmonic vocals, to fabulous effect, lovely and a bit haunting. Closely behind is "With Love (When They Turn on the Light)" (co-authors: James and Ron Last), similar in character. Other superb tracks are the dreamy "Moonrain," with its lush, sensuous string arrangements (and woodwinds), and Duke Ellington's "Caravan," in which Astrud keeps up well with a jazzy, sexy, syncopated beat with unusual accents, punctuated by horn solos, all in all giving the song a sort of mideastern flavor. In a similar mideastern vein is "Saci," with a little faster, more-normal-style jazz beat, excellent sax soloing, and one of two songs Astrud (here male accompanied) sings in Portugese.

Astrud includes some fine compositions of her own. "Champagne and Caviar" is lively, smugly romantic and relaxing, with pretty horn arrangements, following on the heels of the slower-paced "I'm Nothin' Without You," pensive but absolutely charming. "Amor E Som," the other track sung in Portugese, has a steady-driving jazzy beat. All these songs compare favorably with the classic Bossa Nova standards for which she is renowned for performing that were written by the Brazilian masters (OK, granted, Jobim and de Moraes co-wrote "I'm Nothin'," but it is among their best). In fact, the songs on this CD are much more enjoyable than "The Girl From Ipanema," and more interesting and varied, and prettier, than those on her compilation CDs. You will not regret getting this one--it is simply the best.

This joint contribution, by Astrud Giberto, the "Girl from Ipanema", and James "Hansi" Last, is simply a musical marriage made in heaven! This singer, who sings with a flair for life, some of this world's most beautiful music, in combination with James Last, the best international orchestra, in my opinion, combine for an experience the listener will enjoy forever. I have many albums by both artists, individually, and with other artists, such as Stan Getz, but the combination here is pure dynamite! Hansi's wonderful strings, in many selections, and his brass on other tracks, are a magical treat for everyone! My favorites are a wonderful version of "Caravan" and the hauntingly beautiful, "Listen to your Heart". If you are a romantic, who just happens to like the lively beat of the bossa nova, this album is for YOU!!!! Ole!!!!:-) AND to Lindsay MacRae, I say, "Bravo for the strings, Jim!!!!"

1 Samba Do Soho 3:03
2 Im Nothin' Without You 4:22
3 Champagne And Caviar 3:20
4 Listen To Your Heart 4:30
5 Moonrain 3:22
6 Caravan 3:45
7 Amor E Som 3:35
8 Saci 5:28
9 Forgive Me 4:23
10 With Love (When They Turn On The Light) 3:14
11 Agua De Beber 3:43

Astrud Gilberto: Vocals
The James Last Orchestra
Featuring Paulo Jobim, Ron Last, David Sacks,
Marcelo Gilberto and others
Original album, 1986
Digitally remastered

Other than the cover art, does anyone know what the difference is between the 1990 version and the 2009 version?

Astrud gilberto is one of the most important bossa nova voice's! she sings so clear that makes dream come truth. This CD is a sunshine pearl in the brasilian music! Listen it with all atention!