Plays & Sings Bossa Nova [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Luiz Bonfa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1962
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00004S36L
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,946 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest guitarist ever; possibly the best musician too!, July 2, 2000

By 

"marcel195" (Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plays & Sings Bossa Nova (Audio CD)

Sometimes a recording is more than just beautiful music. There are albums in my collection who (which) I seriously consider my friends. These are the ones I hung out with every day for countless months or years, and, when I listen to them again, they remind be of a certain emotion of those days. These are the albums that last a lifetime. "Composer of Black Orpheus plays and sings Bossa Nova" is one of these albums, and one of my best friends.

Luiz Bonfa is a fantastic musician - a fact revealed in this album. As the title suggests, Luiz Bonfa both plays and sings for this recording - a rare treat for any Bossa Nova fan. But this is not for a select few; everybody who hears this album likes this album. It's simply beautiful music that you can listen to any time. On a sunny day, Bonfa's unrivaled guitaring (complimented by funky Brasilian percussion, Jobim-esque piano, the pure tones of Maria Toledo, and occasional, unobtrusive strings) will convince you that you've arrived in 60s Rio. During winter, Bonfa's warm, unpretentious singing is the perfect pick-me-up.

These days it seems to be so hard to find classically trained guitarists sensitive to melody and timbre; and it is equally as hard to find jazz musicians who aren't tempted to play every note in the scale available to them (and sometimes those notes that aren't available). But, while he crosses over both realms, Luiz Bonfa is neither classical guitarist, nor jazz player. In "Composer..." there are some of the most wonderful melodies ever created, the themes expounded beautifully without ever being repetitious. In all of Bonfa's albums, it seems there is a different version of his most famous composition "Manha De Carnaval". This album contains one of the best, displaying Bonfa's incredible gifts in reworking a theme until it becomes perfection. The sixth track, "Silencio Do Amor" is one of the greates songs in existence; so finely balanced between the early verses, in which we hear Bonfa's gentle singing, and the later verses when only his guitar is heard.

Really, all tracks on "Composer..." are beyond easy description. Only the greatest poets could express what one feels when listening to this music. There is something magical in Luiz Bonfa, something that translates only to the heart and that tingly area which is what, I suppose, they call a "soul".

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He's The MAN!, September 7, 2001

By 

jumpy1 (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plays & Sings Bossa Nova (Audio CD)

Oh, this album is so satisfying. Especially the 2nd track: "Vem So (Come Here My Love)", a great love song. On this album Bonfa's guitar playing is elegant and simple, and the orchestrations by Lalo Schifrin extremely romantic. It covers many styles, with one song reminding me of Joao Gilberto and another of Henry Mancini. This album is one of the great legacies of 1960s bossa nova. Sweet, romantic and totally hip.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soothing Sophistication, February 5, 2006

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Plays & Sings Bossa Nova (Audio CD)

Well, I don't know what the reviewer who considered this a snooze expected, Sepultura perhaps? If you don't like mellow, then Luiz Bonfa Plays and Sings Bossa Nova is NOT going to be for you. But if you enjoy the cool, understated and soothing sophistication of bossa nova and a taste of Bonfa's perfect sense of rhythm, then don't hesitate to give this a shot.
I was more familiar with A C Jobim and Joao Gilberto than I was with Luiz Bonfa until I bought this CD, but I knew that Bonfa's music had merit solely on the strength of the internationally famous Morning of the Carnival.
I recently listened to this again after it sat a long time on the shelf, and I found a lot to like that I missed when I initially heard it. The first six songs are vocals, the rest are instrumentals. I like the whole CD, but the following speak to me most:
2) Come Here My Love- rousing stacatto vocals and an interesting instrumental interlude.
3) Sambalamento- great vocals that presage Jobim.
4) Brazilian Blues- epitomizes the "happy sadness" for which bossa nova is famous. Vocals remind me of Roberto Carlos.
5) Morning of the Carnival- I read recently that some Hollywood group recently voted Somewhere Over the Rainbow the "best" movie song ever written. Huh? With so many great movie songs, the "best" is surely a mere matter of taste and hard to define. To my ears, Morning of the Carnival is miles ahead of Yip Harburg's Wizard of Oz ditty.
10)The Sea Wall-A sprightly tune that features a dazzling display of Bonfa's guitar wizardry.
11)The End of Love-With a vaguely familiar opening, this segues into pure instrumental bliss.
13) Bossa Nova Cha Cha- a languid, dreamy cut that closes out this all too short CD.
Obviously, you can tell that I highly recommend this obscure gem. Those who follow my reviews know they can depend on me to call 'em like I hear 'em. So don't hesitate when it comes to discovering (or re-discovering) the magic of Luiz Bonfa by buying this CD.