Non Stop to Brazil

Luiz Bonfa, Gene Bertoncini | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: September 8, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chesky Records
• ASIN: B000003GEY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,624 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #98 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Brazilian > Bossa Nova

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As romantic as a samba in the rain...., December 30, 2001

By 

Penumbra (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Non Stop to Brazil (Audio CD)

For those who are not aficionados of the genre, perhaps Luiz Bonfa is not as well known as Antonio Carlos Jobim or Stan Getz, the other two members of the Bossa Nova triumvirate that seemed to "own the franchise" in the 1960s. However, even casual fans should recognize Bonfa's most well known piece Manha de Carnival (Morning of Carnival), originally written for the movie Black Orpheus and recorded countless times by legions of interpreters.

Bonfa is not only an incredibly talented composer, but a guitarist of great artistry. Jobim said of Bonfa, "...his guitar is a little orchestra." Here Bonfa is joined by Brazilian percussionist, Cafe, and on three tracks by American guitarist, Gene Bertoncini.

All the songs here receive the most tender interpretation possible. While soft and gentle, the performance is filled with passion. This is a lovely and evocative album. Highly recommended.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brazillian guitar at its finest!, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Non Stop to Brazil (Audio CD)

Bonfa, a legend in the Brazilian bossa nova scene, has given us a gift of gold with this record. All of the compositions were written by Bonfa and they are top notch. They contain a sweetness to them that typifies what I love about the bossa nova era from about 1955 to 1965. I believe that Bonfa creates melodies that are often as good as Jobim's, however you may only be able to hear these titles on this record because Bonfa compositions are not as widely recognized as Jobim's. That combined with the fact that this Chesky recording made in 1989 has demonstration quality sound makes this an album not to be missed. A must for bossa nova lovers.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Virtuoso guitar playing, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Non Stop to Brazil (Audio CD)

If you have not yet heard Bonfa and you enjoy acoustic guitar music, drop everything you are doing and get this CD immediately! I first encountered this extraordinary player when I was digging through my dad's record collection a few years back. On the album I discovered, entitled "Sambolero" (now long since unavailable), I listened in awe to versions of "Tenderly" and "Over the Rainbow" which were unlike any guitar music I had ever heard. Bonfa's chops are so far beyond your run of the mill jazz players that it will knock you out! He is the ne plus ultra of acoustic players, creating alternately harp-like, percussive, any polyphonic sounds of dazzling virtuosity. This album contains a broad sampling of his best tunes, including his composition "Sambolero", from the album I first discovered. It is highly recommended.