Customer Reviews

Saudade

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

 

 

I'm a Musician/Music Collector/Bossa Nova Fan and am not the kind of person that will accept just a "good try" at this style of music. After my 1st listen, to tell you the truth, I must say...

It is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

The new songs are as good, if not better, than the older compositions... It plays like a greatest hits disc all the way through. The arrangements are inspiring... I can see why Bish couldn't wait to get behind the mic and give it his all (which he does magnificently.)

It is a spectacular success in the genre for its understated grace as well as its melody & musicality.

It ALL starts with Bishop's incredible songwriting... Producer/Arranger/Guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves works his magic with the foundation and the results are glorious. Eric Clapton's solo on "Save It For A Rainy Day" is worth the price alone. All the guest artists including Earl Klugh, Kenny Rankin & Luciana Souza truly shine.

It will be THE album to soak in, over and over again for years to come, just like the summer sun.

Stephen Bishop is the best kept secret in the easy listening music world. This CD is very enjoyable; his vocals are so unique as is his writing style. So glad he's back to recording as it's been a long time since his best album "Bish"

I'm a long time fan of Stephen Bishop's, I even converted my vinyls into MP3's because I originally could not find all of his albums on CDs. Well, recently I searched Amazon for anything new from Bish and spotted "Saudade" (released in 2007), which I later found out is the same album as the Japan release (in 2/2008) retitled "Romanace in Rio" (with a more colorful cover art).

Although I really enjoyed all of the light-jazz/Brazilian remake of his songs included in this CD, I took points off for his vocals which I thought was somewhat flat and took too much of the attention on most songs. His vocals could have been produced to blend in more (i.e., softer volume/tone or slower tempo perhaps?) so that the excellent guitar of Brazilian Oscar Castro-Neves and other instruments would be featured as well (more in line with Antonio Carlos Jobim vocal songs for example). The one exception being the duet with Luciana Souza, "Un Baile Del Corazon", probably the best song on the album. I was hoping for more Brazilian infused songs like Un Baile.

Overall, I am so happy Stephen Bishop is recording again, and as a fan I'm so ecstatic that I have added this work to my collection. I hope he comes out with more.

I don't care that he's re-recorded a number of his earlier compositions - this is easy listening music of the very highest order. I have to say, I thought he had disappeared for all time but when I discovered he had made an album of music in Brazilian style, I thought it must be worth buying, and I was not wrong. The arrangements are outstanding, the playing is exceptional throughout (but check out in particular Eric Clapton's acoustic guitar solo on the re-recorded 'Save it for a Rainy Day') and full marks to Oscar Castro-Neves, the Brazilian guitarist who has 'styled' the album. Personal Favourites - 'On and On' and 'Never letting go'. Brilliant!

Very disappointed in this album ... I am a big fan of his and expected something fresh.
What happened Bish?