Customer Reviews

Morelenbaum (2)/Sakamoto: Casa (Tribute to Jobim)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're here on this page today, then there's a day in your past when you were first aware that the beautiful and seductive song you suddenly could not get out of your head was written by someone named Jobim. For me, it happened while driving in the small hours of a long-ago November night, listening to a program on a faraway radio station called "Night Flight."

This album was recorded in Jobim's own house, and Jobim's piano responds to the hands of the masterly Ryuichi Sakamoto with as much rich emotion and dulcet tone as it once yielded to its former master. Like so much of Jobim's music, the arrangements here are spare and winsome, shot through with silky beauty and underpinned by emotional tones that recall the first time you gasped upon finally realizing what it means to be in love.

Perhaps you sometimes long again for the shiver that inevitably followed those first, early Jobim record purchases. Finally, here is an album that delivers the goods. I cannot imagine a more perfect voice than Paula Morelenbaum's to sing these songs...she eclipses even Astrud Gilberto. The living-room ensemble of acoustic instruments captures what the songs must have sounded like in Jobim's imagination as he composed them. The recording itself is exquisite. The engineers and producer "play" their mixing boards and recording decks with as much under-the-radar mastery as the musicians, finding balance and clarity for every instrument and voice. No wall of sound here...just delicacy and beauty, and glimmerings of the unspoken sadness that gave wings to the joy in Jobim's music.

An old Jobim lyric translates roughly as "Happiness is a traveler who visits your house, but cannot stay..." The Brazilians speak of "fada," a paradoxical view of fate: in their view, although each life must inevitably come to sorrow (for it is our nature), happiness and beauty burn brighter by our knowledge that we can enjoy them for whatever time we are able to hold them in our hands.

Jobim, too, was a visitor who could not stay...but his spirit burns on brightly in this album.

This CD is a must-have for any serious music lover, a true masterpiece melding Jobim's timeless compositions--some of which are virtually unknown even to major fans like myself--with brilliant and perfectly rendered arrangements for piano, cello, and voice. Paula Morelenbaum sings on most cuts with what to me is the purest, sweetest voice of any female vocalist treating Brazilian popular music, if not any music. The arrangements are unique and somewhat surprising at first, but then one quickly realizes that they reveal the amazing emotional depth of Jobim's musical ideas in a way that has never been done before. If you love jazz, classical music, and of course, Brazilian music, you will not go wrong with this recording and may, like me, find it almost impossible to stop playing again and again.

...and I was sure that the Morelenbaums couldn't easily top their previous album (QUARTETO JOBIM-MORELENBAUM). This new release finds Paula and Jacques joined by the amazingly talented Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto -- and if you think that's an inappropriate addition, wait until you hear this beautiful recording. Sakamoto's work has long been considered some of the best around -- his soundtracks alone are enough to cement his place in music's hall of hallows -- and his creativity and sensitivity are well-spent on these tunes by Brazil's legendary songwriting master, Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Paula's vocals are stunning in their emotion and loveliness, and Jaques' cello is perfect in every way. There are several notable 'guests' on the recording as well: Paulo Jobim, a member of the aforementioned Quarteto, adds his tasteful guitar work; Ed Motta duets with Paula on vocals on one track; Luiz Brasil is along on guitar; Zeca Assumpcao delivers on bass; and the astonishing (but never overpowering) touches of Marcos Suzano on percussion complete the mix.

My only (minor) complaint about the track selections is the inclusion of the final track, a live improvisation. While it showcases the imaginations and musical telepathy shared by Jaques and Ryuichi, it's a little cacophonous for the rest of the material -- but it's definitely not enough to compel me to drop my rating of this fine recording below its well-deserved 'five stars'.

A longtime fan of maestros Jobim and Sakamoto, I was thrilled when I
heard last year that Sakamoto was working on a tribute project with
Morelenbaum in Jobim's residence in Brazil.

The fact that this was recorded in someone's home was not so special,
except that Sakamoto used the very piano which Jobim composed on,
presenting us with an impeccable performance of one modern master's
interpretation of another's most memorable work.

It is nothing less than the finest work Sakamoto has done, and simply
one of the most beautiful collections of music recorded in recent years.

If you want to be swept away on the most beautiful aural landscape
you've ever imagined, buy this album! It will break your heart with
its stunning beauty.

Real musicians, real instruments, and an untraditional studio.

This combination should excite jazz and lounge enthusiasts around the globe. Jobim may not be Ennio Morricone, but the man understood the art of aurally soothing the listener, something that the Morelenbaums and Sakamoto have been perfecting with their prospective instruments (and voices) their entire lives.

Ryuichi Sakamoto is the perfect aural ergonomic asset to this album. I cannot think of a single pianist more fitting to contribute to such a subtle and delicate album. Sakamoto is known for his abilities on the piano as a conjurer of intense emotion, yet not done in the brazen art of forte. Sakamoto, who some may consider is just short of minimalism, does not dominate this cd with irritating displays of technical proficiency, or dominate the sound-scape with ill placed notes or themes. Rather his poignant contributions hold much more beauty in their simplicity, his notes lingering and welling with copasetic peace; the other instruments responding and breathing together.

Fotografia is my fav. song on this cd. The intro is melodic and intriguing, giving way to partial thematic variances and soft pseudo-improv as the different players interact.

This cd is definitely down-tempo. It does not need to be degraded into the genres of easy listening or chill-out, but rather takes its seat with other jazz and lounge masterpieces with equally impressive instrumental execution as the aural designer, Jobim's themes.

This collection of pieces is a washing, soothing masterpiece filled with a powerful sound/light interface that evokes only sunlight and feelings on contentment. Find the one you love, something to drink, and an afternoon or evening to spend with this cd.

This CD contains perhaps the most beautiful collection of songs ever composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim. When I first purchased the Morelenbaum-Jobim Quarteto CD a few years ago, I didn't think it was possible for anyone to surpass the quality found on that disc. Fortunately, I was very mistaken. With the addition of Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Morelenbaums have created an unforgettable masterpiece. Mere words cannot describe the pure brilliance of this CD. Do yourself a favor and purchase it. Tom Jobim would have loved this CD, since it remains true to his creation and vision.

Absolutely fabulous renditions of Jobim. Paula's voice is so pure and
gentle, along with Jacques' cello gliding through the sketches. And the
pianist Sakamoto is perfect as well. I just love this cd. I quickly
obtained their other Jobim tribute cd "A Day in New York" (the Japanese
enhanced version with 5 bonus tracks), which is even further proof that
there is a musical heaven on earth. So sophisticated, cool, and gentle.
I eagerly await their next release. 5 million stars.

Sabia is one of the most fascinating song ever written. This version is superb.Every time I listen this cd there's always REPEAT for this song about 15 times....

I will just add reinforcement to the positive reviews of this magical CD.

I was introduced to it by a fellow member in the Audiogon Forums which is an audiophile website. For an audiophile this CD is a dream, both wonderfully recorded and fantastic sounding, but it is the musical performance that is truly stunning.

I have been a fan of Jobim's music for only a few years and have collected tributes by various artists to his 40 year old standards, but this one is really special.

I have never heard combination such as this uniting a cello, piano and single voice. I also had absolutely no idea that Ryuichi Sakamoto could play with such understated and emotional depth. Some of the arrangements begin with Sakamoto's melancholy simplicity or Jaques' thoughful cello, but then Paula's voice emerges and reaches even further into our soul. I was initially and still remain completely stunned by this CD.

I was not as captivated by their other effort, Day in New York, but Casa is very special.

I became an instant Jobim fan back in high school, while riding the bus to band practice one breezy Saturday
afternoon. The song was "The Girl From Impanema", not on this CD. From that moment on I relished
bossa nova. I have numerous CD's/Books on Jobim's music. This CD "Casa" is the apex of all
interpretations of Jobim's music. The one thing I regret is not watching Jobim perform at the
Hollywood Bowl, "Casa" makes up for the missed opportunity. This CD is simply beautiful.