Customer Reviews

Encanto

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Encanto" follows the highly acclaimed 2006 collaboration with will.i.am Timeless and with this latest release, Sergio takes us even deeper into Brazil, having recorded all the basic tracks in Rio and Bahia and finally finishing up in in California, where the studio band included Alphonso Johnson.
For "Encanto" (in Spanish for Enchantment), Mendes has also enlisted the formidable and enchantingly diverse talents of an array of guest musicians who hail from the world over.
Latin superstar Juanes from Colombia and multi-talented Carlinhos Brown & Vanessa da Mata from Brazil jostle alongside the foremost Japanese pop group Dreams Come True, Belgium's Zap Mama and Italian rapper Jovanotti.
This international cast is completed by the American stars Fergie, Siedah Garrett and Herb Alpert who is accompanied by his wife, original Brasil '66 singer, Lani Hall.
Old smoothie Mendes gets jiggy on a selection of bossa-favourites with a raft of guest stars including the ubiquitous Will.i.am and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Natalie Cole and Herb Alpert et all...
This new album essentially is a cross between Mendes' soft, salsa-tinged melodies and modern day R'n'B.
The opening track, "The Look of Love" with rap/vocals by Fergie, is a deliciously moreish funky-fusion, and for the first third or so, the combination of Sergio's Rhodes with the hip-hopped production style is terrific.
Perhaps this new version of Burt Bacharach's "The Look Of Love", which Mendes had originally transposed to bossa nova heaven in 1967 is the boldest track on "Encanto".
This new interpretation, produced by Black Eyed Peas will.i.am, preserves the alluring melody of the original while bringing the song into the new millennium with crisp drum programming and a sexy rap by Fergie.
Then it goes all smooth jazz on you. Not bad, though.
Whether you are a Sergio Mendes fan especially the earlier stuff, Brasil 66, Equinox, etc or a Black Eyed Peas fan, or indeed R&B then there's something on this album to please everyone.
I'd say for such a challenging album there are only a couple of songs that are just to heavy hip hop for me.
The rest is a joy to listen to, if you are open minded about remixes and love to see what Sergio has been up to.
This album is a grower. The more I listen to it, the better it gets.
You will like it.
Picks of the album: "The Look of Love", "Waters Of March", "Dreamer", and "Somewhere In The Hills (O Morro Nao Tem Vez)".

Equinox
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Greatest Hits
The Very Best of Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66

The album debuts at # 1 of Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz and at # 60 of The Billboard 200 (Issue Date: 2008-07-12).

"Timeless", released in 2006, was a welcome return for Sergio Mendes. I hadn't really followed him much since his album a full ten years before that one titled "Oceano". He used an approach similar to the Oceano and "Brasileiro" albums of the 90's. That is, utilize the talents of some of the budding new talents of the time and put out a nice quality album. On Timeless, he produced the album with Will-I-Am of the black eyed peas, and had a similar approach but more hip-hop/R&B influenced, rather than contemporary as the older 90's albums. I think the key to enjoying this and "Timeless" is to take them as they are. A melding of different musical styles and cultures. It's not like his old music from circa' the 70's. I think some people might be surprised how big R&B and rap and hip-hop are in Brasil; at least in the cities... a lot of my friends in the interior like forro, pagode, etc. but even then like hip-hop, etc.

This one stacks up nicely. In fact, I liked this one better than "Timeless". One of my main criticisms of Timeless was that it felt like I didn't always feel enough of Sergio's influence, if that makes sense. But here you can definitely hear more of Sergio's unique sound and production work which makes it feel so Brazilian. I liked the beat to "Waters of March", sung in English by Ledisi. "Oda-Ya" was funky enough, featuring Carlinhos Brown, a super producer in Brasil whom Sergio actually featured in his old "Brasileiro" cd, and was a part of Tribalistas. For some reason the rhythm reminds me a bit of Jairzinho. I also really dug "Somewhere in the Hills", sung by Natalie Cole. An Antonio Carlos Jobim staple, she did a very nice job. "Dreamer", featuring Herb Alpert and Brasil 66 member Lani Hall was also very beautiful. Another top song on this album was "Catavento". Simply beautiful, featuring Gracinha on vocals, and Toninho Horta on guitar. For good measure there's also a healthy dosage of cuica. Wonderful rhodes as expected and a very nice, easy bossa in some parts. More than maybe any of the other songs on this album, it's the closest to her features on "Oceano" or "Brasileiro". they have a near magical musical connection, Sergio and Gracinha.

There were other very good songs too, like "Acode" with the very talented (and Goooossssstosa Vanessa Da mata) and "Y Vamos Ya" featuring Colombian icon Juanes. It's a very nice album. There's much less hip-hop/rap in this, and it goes down much smoother. But I understand this might be a downer to some, and to be honest the one song I didn't really care much for was the rendition of "The Look of Love". Otherwise, I certainly recommend this. Classy guests all around bsides the artists mentioned. Even Joao Donato appears! Especially if you were similar to me with the last album and wanted a few more songs like "Timeless" and "Samba Da Bencao" or "Consolacao" for example. A nice job by Sergio and will-i-am, who I think hit on the concept a bit more here with less samples, etc. If you do get this and like it, check out Timeless and you might also like Sergio's "Brasileiro" album from 1992 as well. For another artist, check out Marcos Valle too.

In a year where we sadly lost a legend (Dorival Caymmi), it's wonderful to hear a new album from Sergio Mendes.

I bought this CD last summer, having never heard of Sergio Mendes or bossa nova...I just loved Will.i.am and was looking for something new and different to listen to...( My tastes run from everything from rauchy nasty gangsta rap to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys) Well...this has been my year of Sergio Mendes and jazz! I love this CD more and more everytime I listen to it...it just gets better and better.
After I fell in love with Encanto...I went back and bought Timeless and some of the Brasil 66 stuff. I love it all but this is my favorite. It just makes you feel good!

Got excited each time Sergio Mendes releases an album as I have been a fan since his Brasil'66 days. Uptempo, jazzy, bouncy, catchy, pulsating
and many more descriptions could not describe his works. The uber excellent "Brasilero" is still his benchwork in tune with today's upbeat music. "Timeless" with old and new collaboration is also a great classic. Then,we expected more. And now "Encanto" only fulfilled 50 percent of my expectations. The first six tracks got me going, then, it slowed down after to typically Brazilian jazz/samba mood. Wow, what happened. The best and outstanding track is "Lugar Comum" with Jovanatti rapping in Italian and I could not stop tapping my feet.
What a fresh feel. Overall an enjoyable album.

Two years ago Sergio Mendes came back into the mainstream with the Grammy-winning "Timeless" co-produced by wil.i.am with songs featuring Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, John Legend, Justin Timberlake and several other international stars. That album, by virtue of its all-star pop line-up and co-producer had a more hip-hop "flava" to it.

Though wil.i.am returns on "Encanto," most of the new album sounds remarkably like Mendes's classic albums from the 60's and 70's with updated technology. It's like a trip back in time when Brasil '66 was heating up the pop charts.

Ledisi, Carlinhos Brown, Jovanotti, Juanes, Gracinha Leporace, and Vanessa da Mata, along with Siedah Garrett, Natalie Cole and wil.i.am possess the right vocalizations to match Mendes' sultry trademark keyboards.

The benchmark of the album, however, is "Dreamer," featuring the legends Lani Hall on vocals and Herb Alpert on trumpet. That song is worth the price of the whole release.

Fergie's contribution is pretty good on the update of "The Look of Love" but that one pales in comparison to the original classic.

This disc is hot, the old (Sergio Mendes) meets the new (Fergie et al) for some way cool grooves. Mr. Bossa Nova has reinvented himself for a new generation but I think this one might appeal more to those with long memories and remember Sergio Mendes & Brazill 66. I do and it has the same or a similar effect on me now as then, as being fresh , exotic danceable grooves but in a lounge sortta way. The fact that he uses popular popish artists make this an accesssible happy-go-lucky disc; sort of like Dorothy taking a stroll in the Wizard of Oz. Nothing is too threatning or dangerous on this disc, it is safe fun music for your cocktail party. It is just quirky and novel enough to make people smile and get to know one another. The often recorded(how can you miss?) "The Look of Love" is not sultry like Diana krall's The Look of Love but rather Fergie gives it that hip, whispery, soulful touch that jibes perfect with the bossa-hip-hop grooves. Several songs are straight outta the Brazilian bosa nova mode like "Lugar Comun," "Catavento" and "Acode" with it's Bebelesque vocals. "Agua de Beber" is a very cool song, featuring Will.I.am,who gets real bossa nova with a street twist. The song reminds me of something the Spaniard Gecko Turner Guapapasea! might do; he even sounds a little like him! This is another fine disc who brought us Fool on the Hill and the bossa nova to mainstream America. Highly recommended listening music for urban sophisticates.

Sergio Mendes's last album - Timeless - was soooooo good that I couldn't wait for a follow-up.

Encanto does the job. Natalie Cole, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall are all big treats here.

I've been a huge fan of the "Brasil '66" sound since it started. Can't get enough of this infectious beat. Glad that Sergio is still around to give it to us!

Hip hop elements just don't belong in Sergios music! Guest performner Fergie is atrocious and makes we want to stick a fork in my ear. The only good track is by Lani Hall/Herb Alpert. The rest can be banished to short memory. I wish Sergio would have hired a producer that understood what it is that makes his music stellar. Instead we get Producer Will I Am and his grossly misguided contemporary "flava". I've already traded my copy for the Brasil 66 "Equinox" cd. Listen to that album and you'll thoroughly understand my review.

Tracks (Not available at Amazon's page)
1. The Look of Love - With Fergie -
2. Funky Bahia - With Siedah Garret -
3. Waters of March - With Ledisi -
4. Odo-Ya - With Carlinhos Brown -
5. Somewhere in the Hills (O Morro Nao Tem Vez) - with Natalie Cole -
6. Lugar Comum - With Dreams Come True -
7. Dreamer - With Lani Hall & Herb Alpert -
8. Morning in Rio - With Toninho Horta -
9. E Vamos La
10. Catavento - With Gracinha Leporace -
11. Acode - With Vanessa Da Mata -
12. Agua de Beber - With Will I Am -
Bonus Tracks japanese version:
13. Les Eaux De Mars (Waters of March) - With Zap Mama -
14. Y Vamos Ya (E Vamos La) - With Juanes -

This CD brings back Sergio in full speed to the music industry and in perfect shape; this is the Sergio Mendes we all like; full of those Brazilian rhythms that have made him the best embassador of Brazilian Music for 5 decades already, here you also have Sergio's Rhodes 73 keyboard very modern sound with retro elements and very importantly his guests here are:

- Sergio Mendes / Rhodes 73, Arrangements, Pianos, Clavinets, Vocals
- Gracinha Leporace / Vocals
- Paul Jackson Jr. / Electric & Acoustic Guitars
- Alphonso Johnson / Bass
- Carlinhos Brown / Compositions, Vocals, Percussions
- Natalie Cole / Vocals
- Toninho Horta / Guitars
- Mike Shapiro / Drums
- Herb Alpert / Trumpet
- Lani Hall / Vocals
- Miwa Yoshida / Vocals
- Kleber Jorge / Guitars
- Bill Cantos / Vocals
- Steve Baxter / Trombone
- Justo Almario / Flutes
- Meia Noite / Percussions
- Giunga / Compositions, Acoustic Guitar
- Vanessa da Mata / Compositions, Vocals
- Joao Donato / Compoistions, Rhodes 73 keyboard
... and many more.

Get it now, you will LOVE it.

I've been a hugh fan of Sergio Mendes for the last 25 years and pretty much all CD's are really great except for maybe a few.
And this one for me is one that fell in the category of average to below average for someone like Sergio Mendes.
You might be a little disappointed if what you have in mind is the smooth jazzy bossanova type of music typical from Sergio Mendes.