Customer Reviews

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

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There are three master albums of Bossa Nova vocals:
- this Sinatra/Jobim album on Warner sung in English;
- Elis Regina/Tom Jobim album sung in Portuguese; and
- "Amoroso", the Joao Gilberto/Claus Ogerman collaboration, sung in Portuguese, English, Italian, Spanish!

Don't miss the chance to have all three.

Interesting to notice this is a rare songbook project in Sinatra's career and that there is another one with Jobim which was only half issued in Sinatra's title 'Sinatra & Co'.

Sinatra's choice on Jobim's standards was a kill. Sinatra's romantic approach was the precise one for the material while the swinging action was taken by the Bossa rhythm section, leaded by Jobim's guitar and extraordinary Dom Um Romao on drums, on splendorous string arrangements by Claus Ogerman.

Also interesting was the idea to include three American standards which matched taylor made to Bossa Nova: Irving Berlin's 'Change Partners', Cole Porter's 'I Concentrate on You' and Wright & Forest's 'Baubles Bangles and Beads' (from 'Kismet'). All delicious.

This is a mandatory album for a serious Bossa Nova collection.
Also for those who admires Sinatra, this album shows him in an extraordinary performance in a rather exotic ensemble for American standards.

Sinatra had to approach singing these songs, mostly written by Jobim, in an entirely different way (almost whispering) than he had ever done before (or since). The results are beautiful and unlike anything else in Sinatra's canon.

Of course, most people either love or HATE this album. My brother in law is a bossa-nova purist and he is in the latter camp.

Sinatra also collaborated with Jobim in a later (also outstanding) session and the results (7 songs) are featured on his out-of-print CD "Sinatra and Company." These seven tunes are:

1.Drinking Water (Aqua De Beber)
2.Someone To Light Up My Life
3.Triste
4.Don't Ever Go Away (Por Causa De Voce)
5.This Happy Madness (Estrada Branca)
6.Wave
7.One Note Samba (Samba De Uma Nota So)

Reprise records would be classy if they combined the two sessions into one Sinatra-Jobim Complete CD. Until then, check EBAY and other such online sources.

This is not the "swingin'" Sinatra you have come to know. These are arrangements by legendary Claus Ogerman, the same man who just a couple of years ago arranged the hugely popular Diana Krall albums "The Look of Love" and "Live in Paris". This gorgeous collection was released in 1967, at the height of the "Bossa Nova" craze, and the author of the most famous of those songs was Antonio Carlos Jobim. The song was "The Girl from Ipanema" and it is included here, sung by beautifully by both Sinatra in English and Jobim in Portuguese, however, the real highlights on this lush and softly romantic opus is "Once I Loved" and "How Insensitive". Sinatra's voice is deep, smokey and he almost whispers some of the lyrics. This is an ideal album to play in front of a fire on a romantic night. Atmospheric and haunting. I agree with another reviewer that the other Jobim songs should be released with the songs on this CD, however, because the entire length of this album is only about 35 minutes. There is plenty of room for more.

Soft singing, and Sinatra does some outstanding versions of earlier swingers (Baubles, Bangles and Beads, I Concentrate on You) Girl From Ipanema is classic, Quiet Nights... is beautiful.

This is probably one of the best Reprise albums and overlooked by a lot of people who don't know Frank's music so well. Excellent, perfect evening album -- the songs were well selected (unlike a lot of other later stuff!) and his voice is just spot on.

Very recommended!

I'm a big fan of Sinatra's mature macho style, his swinging performances in front of big band, full of bravado, power and conviction.
This is, however, something completely different, Sinatra at his subtlest, very cleverly merging his style with the spirit of Bossa Nova,
without loosing his own American tin-pan-alley quality completely.
Intimate and gentle, this music is still forceful in Miles Davis playing "Saeta" on "Sketches of Spain" album.

Genre-wise, I'm not sure is this actually a bossa nova album or a pop album with a bossa nova slant, but I'm very, very impressed.
Another great album, of similar cross-genre appeal and similar intimate emotions I'd like to recommend is:
Sammy Davis, Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays

Bossa Nova started in Brazil in the late `50s. The "First Generation" included Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto and Vinicius de Moraes as their main artists. Their themes were composed focusing on "Love, Smiles & Flowers" and greatly influenced Latin America's music and even USA's composers.

In the present CD two geniuses join and mix their efforts to give the audience an outstanding performance.
Seven of the compositions are authored by Jobim and include some of his best.
"Girl from Ipanema" make you feel being at the wonderful Ipanema Beach surrounded by the loveliest girls in the world (believe me, I've been there).
"Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" evokes those wonderful starred nights from Rio de Janeiro, with all their sensual appeal, hearing soft guitar music.
"How Insensitive" brings all the melancholy charge of a one-sided love affair's end.
Finally Irving Berlin's "Change Partners" appeal an everlasting male fantasy: Will that girl choose ME instead of her present dancing partner?

Jobim and Sinatra combine their voices into a bilingual performance. Seamlessly, songs unfold from English to Portuguese and back again. Melodies are soft and suggestive, an ideal stuff for starting a romance.
This CD is one of the Top Popular Music in my personal selection. I recommend it warmly!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

Combine the talents of Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim and what do you get? Absolute magic. The relaxed vibe of Jobim's bossa nova is translated with brilliant clarity by Sinatra. All you have to do is hit play and from the first note of this album you will be transported to a sprawling beach with the wind in your hair, your feet up, and a giant Pina Colada in your hand. And that is a place that I like to be.

Sinatra/Jobim is the perfect counterpoint to the boisterous, swingin' sound Sinatra is best remembered for. This album is sensuous where most are brassy -- yet every bit as stirring to hear. Just compare the cool, jazzy "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" on this recording to the "Come Dance with Me" version and you'll see what I mean. Only the Chairman can make a whispered lyric more powerful than one that's belted out in full voice. This is Sinatra at his smooth and mellow best.

As Bossa Nova purist I think Jobim is better when playing his own works with little or large orchestra ensembles.
This may be Sinatra but not Jobim.