Customer Reviews

National Geographic: Destination Brazil

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

 

 

I own most of the albums containing these songs, so it seems like a good introduction to older and newer artists. There are three artists that I particularly enjoy on this album. One is Bebel Gilberto, who is daughter of the famous Bossa Nova artist Joao Gilberto and singer Miucha. (Bebel's NOT Astrud's daughter.) Bebel's album, Tanto Tempos, has received a lot of attention in jazz and Bossa Nova circles for maintaining the "old" bossa nova tradition while drifting into newer territory with electornic beats. This experimentation is due in part to a master-mix artist named Suba. He came from Yugoslavia to Brazil in the late 1980s with experience in classical music, ballet, and other forms. Suba was in the process of making an album called "Sao Paolo Confessions" when he died in 1999 in an apartment fire. His album, ons was very well put-together and is also worth checking out if you want to listen to an experimental mix of Bossa Nova/Trip Hop/ Electronica.

But I have to admit, that my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE artist on this album, who isn't as well-known in Brazil (in the pop world) is Vania Abreu. She's the sister of the famous Axe star, Daniela Mercury. Vania's a better vocalist though, and her style is a mixture of Jazz/samba cancao. Her voice is warm, smooth, and just beautiful. I'd recommend you get the full album of Vania's (Seio Da Bahia) instead of just the small sample of "Anjo do Velha Guarda (angel of the old guard). Heh, In my opinion, as much as I love Bebel, Vania just blows Bebel out of the water vocally, Vania's voice is infectious. Anyway. This is a good music sampler.

I don't attempt to be an expert on Brazilian music. However, if you have an interest in sultry, jazzy, cool sounds from different parts of the world I HIGHLY suggest this CD. I was in a contemporary furniture store and this CD was playing so I instantly found out what it was and bought it. I have enjoyed every song on this compilation which I find hard to say about most CD's I purchase. Take the plunge! You won't regret it.

I allowed myself to be seduced by the cover photo, which implied (to me) that the album would have vintage cuts from the 40s and/or 50s. Instead it's all current stuff, some of it interesting to me, but much of it not.

Part of an interesting series of musical "journeys" sponsored by the National Geographic. This has a nice selection of modern artists: Caetano Veloso, his niece Belo Velloso, Bebel Gilberto, Suba, Ana Caram and the like. The Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum provides a more traditionalist link to old-school bossa nova, and Fatima Guedes to the older acoustic sambas... The coolest part of this disc is the accompanying geographic/social info: a brief timeline of Brazilian history, descriptions of major musical styles and instruments, tips on various music festivals and, of course, one of those great National Geographic maps. Pretty mainstream, overall, but a nice introductory collection.

This is a superb collection of Brazilian songs - lovely, sensuous, seductive, ethereal - and cheaper than a trip to Rio. But almost as much fun.

No one needs to understand the lyrics to like the songs, they are soothing, and calming makes you want to listen over and over again. This cd has such a wonderful selection of Bossa Nova songs. For sure anyone with good ear for jazz would love this cd.