Samba Rock

Trio Mocotó | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 22, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Six Degrees
• ASIN: B00005UF3R
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,542 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Waiting 26 years between releases has to be some kind of record. But so is Samba Rock. Having first gained notoriety as Jorge Ben's backing band in 1969, Brazilian "samba soul" pioneers Trio Mocotó released three influential albums in the 1970s before packing it up. Renewed interest in vintage Latin recordings spurred the Trio to reunite for their latest release, and it's far from an exercise in nostalgia. The group holds on to its core style of innovative vocal arrangements and flirtations with soul, funk, and jazz while also presenting a cartoonish ambiance that leaves lesser mortals frowning in the dust. But the 21st-century Trio also seamlessly blends modern sensibilities with its venerable minimoog, updating "Voltei Amor" with subtle electronica and energizing Jorge Ben's "Adelita" with a vigorous tropical rock attack that complements the all-out party atmosphere. Even Antonio Carlos Jobim's classic "Aguas de Marco" ("The Waters of March") gets an unexpectedly loosey-goosey reading via an instrumental whose lead voice is provided by the percussive whine of the cuica (best known for the background whoops in Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"). Backed by supple horn players, keyboardists, drummers, and more, the Trio miraculously fuses various styles from different eras without ever straining the essential samba sensibility. While the out-there approach may not suit every listener, it will definitely delight anyone with a healthy sense of fun. --Bob Tarte

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars for Samba Rock!!, March 7, 2004

By 

M. Katayama-Lee (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samba Rock (Audio CD)

Contrary to part of its title and for those of you who may not be so familiar with Brazilian music or Brazilian terminology of music, this is not a rock CD or in any way a fusion of samba and rock music. Instead it is a delightful collection of original, funk-soul-samba inspired songs with a dash of modern ingredients. Trio Mocoto is a wonderful, soulful group who performed with the great Jorge Ben in the 70's and had a lot of success during that era when funk-soul-samba fusion music was at an alltime high. They were and still continue to be one of the best groups from that era and have had more staying power than other equally talented groups/artists from that era (like Banda Black Rio, Azymuth, Wilson Simonal, Tim Maia, etc.), whom many of them unfortunately died out with the passing of the 70's and early 80's. A wonderful CD to revive the career of a wonderful group! Every song is energetic, original and equally as good as the other, I highly recommend checking out this CD. You will not be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Fun Fun!, January 16, 2003

By 

novinda - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samba Rock (Audio CD)

So I was listening to VH1 internet radio, Brazilian station, and I heard 'Adelita.' I realized that I had to own this CD. It's like a party in a disc, and after all, brasileiros know how to party. It's got a bit of a carioca swing that is just infectious even if you don't know Portuguese (and maybe now you want to learn, huh?!). I'm glad these guys decided to make a comeback so young'uns like me could get to know them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These guys are kind of nuts, but they are funny., June 15, 2002

By 

John P. Rickert - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Samba Rock (Audio CD)

First, I'd have to agree with Amazon's chosen critical review wholeheartedly. It isn't that the group sounds like Brave Combo as such, but they do have a similar, unleashed sense of fun romping around various musical styles, and sometimes you end up with a huge, somewhat baffled smile on your face. "Cyrano" sounds like a strange combination of 70's rock, samba, and theme music for a TV show of the Munsters variety. It is a blast. "Pensando Nela" is a bossa nova with a really relaxed, happy groove and a consciously loungy air that will have you smiling even if, as the case with me, you generally don't care for songs of that description. In his famous song "Chiclete com Banana," Jackson do Pandeiro satirically called for a fusion of American and Brazilian music he named "samba-rock." He would definitely enjoy these unimagined results. Have yourself a "Tudo Bem" day.