Live in Cuba [Import, Live]

Ivan Lins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Live
• Label: Velas
• ASIN: B00004TCNU
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,356 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lua Soberana

2. Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite

3. Comecar de Novo

4. Dinorah, Dinorah

5. La Explosion

6. Lembra de Mim

7. Iluminados

8. Garota de Ipanema

9. Vitoriosa

10. Al, Al, Al, Al, Al

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The singer-composer Ivan Lins has been a major star of MPB (Musica Popular Brasiliera) for more than 20 years. He is a natural tunesmith with a strong pop sensibility whose songs have been covered by Ella Fitzgerald, George Benson, and Quincy Jones, among others. Pianist Chucho Valdés is the bandleader of Irakere, Cuba's premiere big-band jazz ensemble. This CD comes from Lins's own label, Velas, so it's not surprising that most of the tunes were written by Lins and his lyricist, Victor Martins, but that doesn't mean that Valdés and Irakere don't get to rock the house plenty with their sophisticated tropical swing. Lins's tenor voice is as flexible and pure as ever and his phrasing is masterly. He is one of the few singers capable of fronting an ensemble of this size and complexity. The set is aimed at an adult-contemporary audience, and everyone involved was obviously having a ball. --Christina Roden

From Rhythm Magazine

Recorded in Havana in '96, this collaboration by two Latin American musical giants is a dream come true. Six of the album's ten tracks feature the phenomenal Cuban big band Irakere, led by the celebrated pianist Chucho Valdis, backing up Brazilian vocalist Ivan Lins on his original compositions. Three tracks feature cellist Mario Manga, who poignantly accompanies Lins' resonant voice and solid keyboards. Lins also performs the Antonio Carlos Jobim/Vinmcius de Moraes classic "Garota From Ipanema" as a self-accompanied piece, allowing his voice and piano ample room to dance around the familiar melody. Irakere and Valdis show off on "La Explosion," an instrumental tour-de-force that jaunts from blues to funk to mambo to swing and back again.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lins with a Cuban Touch, July 26, 2000

By 

Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live in Cuba (Audio CD)

Ivan Lins is, without a doubt, one of the greatest composers Brasil has ever given us, yet not having received, outside his country of origin, the adulation that, deservedly, Milton and Caetano have. Ivan Lins' compositions hold the very soul of Brasilian's bossa with the added benefit of the man's broad knowledge of pop music. As far as I am concerned, he's the Quincy Jones of Brasil. The biggest differences with Quincy, whom I love, are a wonderful voice and an age-old collaboration with Vitor Martins, the great lyricist. The result ... years of fantastic song-crafting This CD is not his best but contains some of his greatest songs backed by Irakere, the amazing Cuban band. Chucho Valdez, Irakere's perennial leader and pianist, offers Lins his unequivocal and deep-felt Latin reading, along with a band that remains among the best, of any genre and by any standards (after all they used to have Paquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval among its member, before they defected). If you know Lins' work, you might find it ackward at first to get used to its arrangements, yet after listening to it for the second time, you'll be pleased. I listened to it earlier today, while in heavy traffic on my way to Manhattan, and it made it enjoyable. If you ever drove to NYC, you know this is a high complement.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ivan as good as always !!!!!!!, October 4, 2001

By 

Papetti "papetti" (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Live in Cuba (Audio CD)

Ivan is for one a great pianist/singer/composer and arranger, and this live album is the perfect display rack. The collaboration and rich accents that Irakere adds to this album are peerless. Maybe not Ivan's best work, but if you're into brazilian jazz-pop music, this can be a great addition to your collection, and if you've known Ivan for years, you'll also love this piece of art. Please do yourself a favor and procure this CD immediately, you'll be glad you did.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Elevator Music, September 14, 2003

By 

William Jones (Punta Santiago, PR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live in Cuba (Audio CD)

Unusual offering from Irakere, but that in itself is not unusual. They're either great or off. This CD is in the off category.