Customer Reviews

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

5 star:		(104)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I purchased this album because the author (and Sinatra aficionado) Pete Hamill claimed in his book "Why Sinatra Matters" that it was one of Sinatra's best. Nevertheless I was skeptical because quite often a record producer or performer will get the idea that creating a `super group' or pairing two very talented musicians will create a record that is even greater than the sum of its parts. That usually doesn't happen. The usual result is one in which each `diva' takes a turn showcasing his or her talents. "Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim" is a rare and very pleasant exception. Although not a 50-50 blend, this album really showcases Sinatra performing the great Jobim's music, the result is virtually flawless.

Sinatra & Jobim was released in the U.S. in 1967 during the height of Brasil's bossa nova invasion. Performers such as Jobim, Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto, enjoyed tremendous influence on U.S. pop music and jazz. Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, Ella Fitzgerald and others all absorbed or collaborated in the bossa nova boom. This album and the later "Sinatra and Company" mark Sinatra's footprint in the bossa nova genre.

The CD opens with an excellent cover of The Girl from Ipanema with Sinatra taking verses in English and Jobim in Portuguese. As others have noted, Sinatra's voice is quiet to the point of whispering. Those used to swing era Sinatra and his other full throttle vocals may find is quiet, spare renditions different to say the least. It happens to work in the context of this and other tracks such as Dindi, Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars and Meditation. Sinatra always had a great feel for interpreting a song and I think his approach to Jobim's songs is dead solid perfect. Similarly, the three non-Jobim songs arranged by the very talented Claus Ogerman, "Change Partners", "I Concentrate on You", and "Baubles, Bangles and Beads", fit in nicely with Jobim's in terms of the mood and the music.

All in all this is an excellent CD and is one that I often turn to when I want music to whisper to me instead of shout. Highly recommended.

The legendary Ol' Blue Eyes sings the Bossa Nova icon's compositions and does more than justice to his songs. His interpretations are awesomely beautiful and incredibly enchanting. He covers these songs with utmost confidence considering that these songs are not his normal repertoire. In my opinion, this is one of Sinatra's finest albums ever recorded. With A.C. Jobim and one of my favorite conductors/arrangers, Claus Ogerman in the picture, what more can you ask for?

On the opening track, Jobim shares the spotlight with Sinatra on a duet, "The Girl From Ipanema" covering the Portuguese lyrics of this beautiful classic and in my opinion, the most famous of all his compositions. I love his music and have collected a few of his earliest albums. He was one of the few creative musicians who composed, sung, played the piano and guitar. He collaborated with Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto, to name a few, and has created wonderful and lovable melodies that are so appealing and pleasing even to the most discriminating ears. Many think of him as Brazil's answer to America's George Gershwin.

Only three out of the ten tracks are non-Jobim compositions, Irving Berlin's "Change Partners," Cole Porter's "I Concentrate On You" and Wright/Forrest/Borodine's "Baubles, Bangles And Beads."

My favorites? They're my all-time favorites, but I picked out one lovely song as follows:

"Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars"
Words & Music by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Gene Lees

"Quiet nights of quiet stars
Quiet chords from your guitar
Floating on the silence that surrounds us

Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams
Quiet walks by quiet streams
And the window looking on the mountains and the sea
How lovely"

I'm not whining about it, but I wish there were a lot more selections included, some of the more famous Jobim staples such as "Wave," "One Note Samba" and "Desafinado." This is one magnificent CD to complement your Sinatra and Jobim collections. It so deserves to be in your music library.

* * * * * TEN STARS * * * * *

Woah...this is one incredible album. Not only do you have Sinatra singing all sorts of different styles, but you've got the great Antonio Carlos Jobim accompaning him on classic guitar and occasionally singing along. "The Girl from Ipanema" is the best version I've heard. So sensual and classic. "I Concentrate on You" is one of the best on this album. It sounds like they really worked on this song, I'm sure it must have been complicated to sing all those different sharp chords. I seem to never get tired of hearing that song. And I keep playing this album, loving it more all the time. All different walks of life visit me, and each person is never disappointed with hearing any one of these songs when I put this on. It's the perfect cd to relax with, and have nice gatherings to as well. Even if one isn't a Sinatra fan, this will make you think twice about the genre...how unique it was, and how wonderful the music still is.

This is some of the finest music ever recorded, a product of the pairing of musical geniuses. Mostly A C Jobim compositions, brilliantly, tastefully arranged, backing Sinatra, toned down, singing, cooing softly over the bossa nova jazz. Only one complaint-- not enough of it; the album is really short, some bonus tracks from the session, alternate takes, etc. would be appreciated. The mix and the general sound reproduction is nearly perfect, the remastering flawless-- it sounds great! My favorites: I concentrate on you; on this record, the standard is wholly unique with regards to other interpretations by sinatra and others, witha sharp, punchy horn arrangement in the intro. Sinatra and jobim's voices intertwining on girl from Ipamena This is the sinatra record for people who might not care for sinatra; the best introduction to bossa nova.

The ultimate mood record; ultimate bachelor pad soire record, ultimate record to kick back to witha drink, best record to calm nerves in your car on the way to work, to get you in the mood; everything for everyone, bossa nova, easy listening, the nuances of sinatra's voice in a non swinging setting.

Sure to become the treasure of your cd collection.

Though this album clocks in at a measley 28:34, it may well be Sinatra's finest work of the 1960s, and song for song it is up to the quality of anything he ever did--including even his glorious prime period of the 1950s. Each song is a gem--a diamond on black velvet. Antonio Carlos Jobim, who plays guitar and occasionally sings backup during the recording sessions, was one of the greatest song writers of the past century, easily in the class of Gershwin, Cole Porter, or Duke Ellington. Seven of his best songs grace this album, each lovingly framed by atmospheric, beautiful Claus Ogerman arrangements. The real surprise comes when one hears the three non-Jobim songs: "Change Partners", "I Concentrate on You", and "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads." The bossa arrangements of these songs are just as stunning as the rest, and for my tastes (after more than two hundred listens), possibly even more impressive than the others. This music stands up to redundant play and never fails to impress and please. I only wish that Reprise would take the side from the deleted 1969 album (Sinatra and Company) that was recorded with Jobim and Ogerman, and package it with this album to make it a 45 or 50 minute bossa nova extravaganza. But that's a minor quibble. This album is nearly perfect. Everyone I know who has heard it loves it. Chances are you will too.

One reviewer of the Getz/Gilberto album says that album would be one he'd take into the afterlife. For me, it is this collaboration between two of my favorite jazz artists of the 20th century - Sinatra and Jobim. First there is the music itself... delicate, light as breeze across naked skin. There are a lot of layers here - guitar, percussion, delicate trumpet -all of which are arranged superbly by Claus Ogerman to underscore rather than compete with each other. It is cool jazz laid atop of shaved ice.

Then, of course, there is Sinatra. A very different sort of Frank came to these sessions. Gone is the hyperbole and beloved histrionics that made his "ring-a-ding" and crooner personas so endearing. But Sinatra changes personas as surely as Ziggy became the Thin White Duke. He becomes "Francis." A liliting, delicate, but still supremely masculine singer, navigating through Jobim's textures on a glider rather than a Lear jet. This instinct for the material, so quiet, yet so clear, causes the listener to feel Sinatra effortlessly inhabit the material, not like a tourist, but as a native. The visual on "Cocorvado"is one of a mature Frank under a tree, shirtless, tan, in cargo-pants, strumming his ramshackle guitar while local girls swoon nearby.

I adore all of Sinatra's concept albums, but this gem holds special place in my heart for it manages to connect the cultures without being overly dear or condescending. There is the feeling of summer romance here. The feeling of two men finding the right notes again and again.

In 1967 bossa nova was at the height of its relative popularity with both pop and jazz audiences, so it was not surprising that Frank Sinatra would offer up an album of such material. Intending to go first class all the way, Sinatra worked with the acknowledged master bossa nova composer, Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim, who was known as the George Gershwin of Brazil. The songs were actually arranged by Claus Ogerman, but Jobim was featured prominently on the album playing guitar and singing backup vocals. The songs are mostly original compositions by Jobim, such as "Girl from Ipanema," but there are also a trio of "American" songs done in the bossa nova style: "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," "Change Partners," and "I Concentrate on You." The end product is rather quiet for a bossa nova album, but echoes Sinatra's superb work as the premiere saloon singer of his or any other generation. Sinatra's vocals remain in the forefront while the Latin rhytms, the muted trumpet of Billy May, and Jobim's guitar set the stage, seen best on "Corcovado" and "Insensatez." The only possible complaint with "Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim" is that there are only ten tracks and less than a half hour's worth of music on this album. But there is no denying that this is Sinatra at his best and one of his half dozen best albums from the Sixties (#19 on the Pop Charts but #4 on the Jazz Chart), which is why it still rates five stars.

Sinatra gives his own super cool renditions of some of Jobim's best songs. Frank shows that he could sing in virtually any style. He does a good job, but then again, who could screw up such great songs as "Girl from Ipanema," "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars," and "Meditation?" I would have liked more duets here. Jobim does sing on a couple tracks in Portuguese. But mostly, this is Frank's show. I bought this album yesterday and have played it at least four times already. At only 28 minutes, the CD is short and sweet. But that's okay. Short album running times were common back then. And other bossa nova albums, from Astrud Gilberto's "A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness" to Jobim's "The Composer of Desafinado, Plays" were also short. They knew how to make you come back for more. Sometimes I don't want or need 13 bonus tracks of outtakes, acoustic demos, mono versions of stereo, stereo versions of mono, studio banter, instrumentals without vocals, vocals without instrumentals, false starts, some British DJ's techno remix, and other filler. This album, all by its lonesome, is good enough. Not every album needs the Smithsonian treatment, even if it's deserved.

There are probably no words to describe the beauty of this CD, other than to say it is the fortuitous melding of two great talents. Sinatra has never sounded more wistful, or gentle, or treated songs with such finesse and delicacy. His version of Inutil Paisagem (here titled If You Never Come To Me) is otherworldly. As someone who has long enjoyed Sinatra's saloon songs AND his swinging joyfully over Nelson Riddle or Count Basie arrangements, this is a wonder and oddly, a respite. I'm glad he did it.

I suspect if you looked in any dictionary to find the true meaning of sublime Webster's would probably have this cd as it's description. I may be overstaing my case but,I suspect, I'm not too far off!

This disc is heavenly. Sinatra has rarely sung with such softness and true tenderness. If the concept was to make it seem as though Frank was singing to only the listener and on one else well then they've succeeded admirably! Of course, having Antonio Jobim actually in the studio with Frank was a simple necessity. I could make a point of complaining about Jobim being subjected to little more than the role of "accompianist" on this disc but we'll let that go....for now. He never has been giving enough credit for his truly remarkable performance on this cd. This music demands, not bravado, but subtly and elegance...both of which are in abundance here.And I suspect part of that is due to Antonio Jobim being close by to keep things in perspective for Mr. Sinatra! Plus, to give credit where it is due, the orchestration by Claus Ogerman is the 'glue' that might actually keep everything together. Not once does here lose control of these songs and he seems to be able to keep the formidable Mr. Sinatra in tow. Not an easy task I am sure!

Highlights...well,the entire disc could be highlighted but for me two songs stand out, " Dindi" and "How Insensitive" although I'm sure you'll have your own favorites.The disc, as a whole, has a kind of late night, subtle quality that hasn't been heard in Mr. Sinatra's albums in years. All in all a cd you may find yourself listening to again and again. And why wouldn't you? Music of this caliber is rare these days so of course we tend to go back to the "old masters" to, once again, show us the way. Some things never do change!

Adendum: If you find this disc to be your cup of tea you may wish to puchase Verve's recent release by Astrud Gilberto "Shining Hour". At this rate Bossa Nova may never be out of vogue!Well, not in my house anyway!