Customer Reviews

Live In Montreux

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Out of a record collection of about 700 CDs and 500 vynils, this is maybe one of my best. Joao and his guitar. Nothing else. His voice and his weird tempi are magic. Listen out for 'Madame', 'O samba mandou-me chamar' or the best 'Felicidade' ever (apologies for my poor portuguese). A must. The original double CD should be re-issued.

Nothing can beat this. He is a full orchestra. Among Davis, Evans, Bach, Hendrix, Jobim, everytime I come back to this album, Joao in Montreaux, this is the best. Everything that is beautiful about music is here, and I wonder how miserable it would be if I had to live without Joao.

Dear WEA/ELEKTRA people, I desperately hope to hear this all. I do insist that the original DOUBLE CD TO BE REISSUED. It is a sin to hide even a single song that Joao sang in the warehouse.

Like Thelonious Monk, like Erroll Garner, Joao Gilberto has done little to change his style over the course of his musical life. I saw him play a month ago in San Francisco, and at age 73, all that has really changed is his voice, now colored by age, but not even a great deal. He still plays with tremendous focus and ability. And, like Basie's American swing or Django's European swing, he has his own swing which is purely Brazilian and purely Gilberto. And he still prefers to be his own band, dropping even the spare drums he had in the 60s and 70s. The Montreux show is outstanding. The crowd is very receptive, and usually interrupt the first few seconds of a famous song with applause. It's a strange tradition. In typical Gilberto fashion, he mixes the oldies with some newer songs, most notably Caetano Veloso's "Menino do Rio." The other highlights (though there really aren't any lowlights) are "Morena Boca de Ouro," "Pra Que Discutir com Madame," "Sem Compromisso" and "Preconceito."

This is one of my top 10 recordings of all time. It is History. Seeing that it is live, it is incredible...and absolutely All of the music recorded that wonderful day should be made available. How many artists can bring a packed audience to such heights with such gentleness and such grace? Very few. The way in which Joao so playfully gets the audience to join him in "Felicidade", and the utter soul-baring in "Estate" are two examples of what a true classic this is. Joao even makes "Garota de Ipanema" sound fresh and like the true classic it always will be. The booklet includes lyrics both Portugese (and Italian in the case of "Estate") with English translation. I could write a book, but just get this and hear Live Magic for yourself.

Joao Gilberto's "Live in Montreux" is one of the best live jazz albums I've ever heard. The concert list is superb, taking songs that represent the best of Brazilian Bossa Nova jazz. Joao's solid and genius guitar playing uses perfect rhythm, beautiful chord voicings, and makes the listener feel lke they were actually at the concert. His sweet, and deceptively low voice is rich with color and emotion. All the lyrics are written in the liner notes, and the poems alone can make you cry. This album is worth every penny of the cost, without a doubt. Get it.

If you're looking for a simple, beautiful record of one man and his guitar, you won't find anything better than this. Such a warm intimate sound--- perfect for a summer night with someone you love.

I have had this recording for over 10 years and it still is my favorite Joao Gilberto recording. The tunes are well chosen, and it is simply Joao singing and accompanying himself on guitar.

As Miles Davis once said, "Joao could sound good reading a newspaper".

The best... I'm not even a Bossa Nova fan but this CD kept me into it from the first track to the last! It is extremely relaxing and at the same time gives you an incredible eager to move.
You will be captivated by this amazing CD, especially "Sandalia de Prata", "Pra que discutir com Madame", "Adeus America" and the immortal "Garota de Ipanema".
Buy one!

Alpha waves, beta waves...whatever the best ones are, they switch on instantly when Joao starts Sem Compromisso. Can I just use some of the words of Ippei from Japan from eight years ago?: "Everything that is beautiful about music is here, and I wonder how miserable it would be if I had to live without Joao. Dear WEA/ELEKTRA people, I desperately hope to hear this all. I do insist that the original DOUBLE CD TO BE REISSUED. It is a sin to hide even a single song that Joao sang in the warehouse." Wea/Elektra is still a company; can anyone who comes upon this write to them and ask about the full release? Can you write to Joao and ask the gentleman if he is aware of its status? Top five all-time desert disc -- do not miss!

I OWNED MOST OF JOAO'S ALBUMS [SOME OUT THERE WERE SIMPLY RECYCLED] BUT THIS MONTREUX ALBUM REALLY STANDS OUT. THIS IS JOAO IN HIS FINEST HOUR --- THE VOICE, THE GUITAR, THE PHRASINGS. IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED BOSSA NOVA BEFORE GIVE THIS ONE A SHOT, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!