Customer Reviews

Seu Jorge And Almaz

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

 

 

Album: Seu Jorge and Almaz

Seu Jorge (pronounced in Portuguese: E-see-eh-ooh Zhoh-zhee, with "zh" sounding like "Zsa" as in Zsa-zsa Gabor) is a Brasilero (Brazilian for male national) from the favelas (ghettos) of Belford Roxo in the State of Rio. He demeanor exudes "legal" (cool) and he has this deep throaty voice that seemingly "can only" come from the Brazilian Portuguese landscape. He is best known in America (and the West) for the soulful David Bowie covers in the movie "The Life Aquatic" - captured in the album "The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions" (listen to the track "Starman" in particular).

He has also released a couple of his own albums ("Carolina", "America Brasil"), along with doing collaboration work and movies. Notably his deep and smooth voice is showcased in the mixed lounge song by "Bid" featuring Seu Jorge called "E Depois". This track has been featured on many albums including "Brazilian Lounge" by Putumayo.

His recent album he shares stardom with the three other musicians on their new album, simply titled "Seu Jorge and Almaz". This album takes a brief moment to take in, it's a uncharacteristic to the typical Brazil Sambas drawing gringos to record store racks. It has this pyhscodelic trance surreal quality about it and feels aloof giving it an instant "legal" (legal is slang for 'cool' in Brazilian) feeling like a strung out rock star.

While no new ground is being covered with this album, the groove is tight, the chops fresh and surreal off key sounding. The sounds are slightly jazzy drums, smooth vocals, and supple bass lines; it's an example of a good organic album. In fact, NPR (National Public Radio) named it number #1 Latin Album for 2010. A strung out and trippy cool album, featuring tracks in both English and Portuguese is must have for any discerning world music fan.

Seu Jorge has a wonderful voice. I have never heard him live, but I wished I had when he performed on the east coast last summer. To get a feel for his sound, you can hear him on Soundcheck on[...]

I main reason I purchased this album (I feel old even using this term anymore) because I have his prior one, Cru. Cru is wonderful. It is great to listen to - start to finish.
I did not give this one 5 stars because, to me, this one just does not have the same feel as Cru. The songs, to me, were not conceived to be listened together. Instead, it sounds better when it is just shuffled with other stuff on your ipod.

Like many, I "discovered" Seu Jorge through his reprises of Bowie, which remains a pearl in the musical landscape to this day.
I then tried his other, jazz, works, but must admit I was less attracted to it, not being a fan of the genre.
With this latest work, Seu Jorge has produced another solid, pleasurable, savant piece of music.
He deftly powders his under-the-surface, darker, "rock'n'roll" self into his bright brasilian musicality.
The result is an eerie, soft-toned but passionating sound. Pure bliss.

Thank you again, Mr Jorge !

I heard about this album on NPR. I have to admit I was immediately attracted to the music just because of the Portuguese language. To someone who doesn't speak portuguese, the words sound so familiar and they flow in the song so smoothly. Seu Jorge's voice is one of a kind. He sounds like he's been through so much. The band accompanying him does what I think all great Brazilian artists do: they make the music sound effortless and slightly lackadaisical. It's as if they aren't trying to sound tight together, yet the rhythm still feels steady. I especially love the song Everybody Loves the Sunshine. Just listen to it.

Delivered with simmering sensuality and authentic tonality, Seu Jorge's music carries one away with warm tropical breezes and brilliant artistry. Refreshing.

Psychedelic Brazilian rock? In 2010? Coming as a complete surprise from the land of samba and bossa nova is deep baritone Seu Jorge backed by the electric band Almaz with a sound (track 1) that takes me back 40 years. Besides that tune of Jorge Ben, Seu Jorge sings covers of soul tunes that have grabbed him over the years, composed or performed by Brazilians, Americans, and Europeans. Hence, we have a retro rock & roll album of high calibre in Portuguese and English. For instance, the Roy Ayers' tune, Everybody Loves the Sunshine, is taken in a minor key, to be different and somewhat paradoxical. Although not a major album, these varied recordings are fun listening. ***1/2

Just listened to the first cut, "Everybody Loves the Sunshine". So good it gave me chills! Seu Jorge is such a mesmerizing chanteur, and I look forward to the whole CD!