Customer Reviews

Jazzvisions: Rio Revisited

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Those of us whose hearts are stirred by the music of Brasil, whose breath comes a little short when the lush arrangements of Claus Ogerman swell behind vocals sung in Portugese, and whose eyes become just a little watery as the unique joy/sadness of love is captured in music will love this record.

The arrangements are not Ogerman's but pay tribute to them while permitting the listener a raised eyebrow here and there. The compositions are Jobim's, and therefore without peer. Finally, the voices are those of the composer himself and of Gal Costa, herself without peer as a vocalist and as a performer of Brasilian music. With all these elements in place, what could stand in the way of a special performance?

Nothing. This is an essential for any Brasilian collection.

I keep buying more bossa nova cd's (Best of Bossa Nova, Jazz Samba, Jazz Samba Encore, Wave, Jobim--The Composer Plays...) but this remains one of the tops. Hearing Jobim and Gal Costa trade off melodies in Wave, Dindi, the joyful bubbly poetry of Waters of March...this is great music. Chega de Saudade I already had on Sony's Compact Jazz recording, The Best of Bossa Nova. Now I get to hear the words to this incredible song. Samba Do Avião (Song of the Jet) is sung in Portuguese. I don't understand the words, but the melody stirs one and creates an angst in their heart. I can see person departing on a plane away from home and friends... The beautiful Corcovado, inspired by the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Hill which Jobim could see from his apartment window.

There is not a bad song on this cd. It is recorded at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles and captures the excitement of the live setting.