A Tábua De Esmeralda [Import]

Jorge Ben | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B00000G7CY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,117 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #85 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Samba

Editorial Reviews

CD > BRAZILIAN MUSIC > MPB - BRAZILIAN POPULAR MUSIC

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jorge's In The Zone On This One!, June 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Tábua De Esmeralda (Audio CD)

This 1974 album is a total winner from the 1969-78 period when Jorge Ben, one of Brazil's most unique, distinctive and influential stylists ever, released a masterpiece a year without fail. Acoustic guitar-based, soulful, crafty, catchy, thoughtful, groovy, the songs just blow you away one after another. They're similar and different all at once, and the album is a model of a singer-songwriter honing his craft and nailing it repeatedly. To make a totally random comparison, NOT ONE of John Lennon's solo efforts during the same era match this for consistency and invention, and John would have probably been very pleased to come up with this same record. And I love Lennon! Anyway, this is said to be Jorge's personal favorite of the many fantastic albums he's made, and others worth seeking out include "Ben" (72), "Força Bruta" (70), "Jorge Ben" (1969), "Africa Brasil" (76) and "Samba Esquema Novo" (63). Give this CD a chance--you'll eventually need to hear it every day.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE sound., June 20, 2003

By 

Idiosyncrat (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Tábua De Esmeralda (Audio CD)

This album simply sounds amazing. It's primarily driven by Jorge Ben's ultra-funky guitar playing; imagine choppy funk guitar, but played in a Spanish guitar, with a samba influence to all of it; it's got a really unique sound that really must be heard to be grasped. The one other group I'm familiar with that has a similar guitar sound is Café Tacuba (especially their first two albums), but it's not quite the same.

The rest of the band is also wonderful; the drum kit and synth really drive songs like "Os Alquimistas Estão Chegando" over the top. The songs are wonderfully composed and arranged. They make a sophisticated virtue of straightforwardness; or in other words, it's amazing how such sophisticated songs can sound so simple. Jorge's singing shows great variety and effortless spontaneity. I was going to list my favorite tracks, but realized that except for "Brother", they're all great...A must-have.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Ben, August 24, 2000

By 

"jeffinho_branco" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Tábua De Esmeralda (Audio CD)

This is a great album--funky, rootsy, catchy pop tunes with that great 1970's production and totally singable melodies. All the songs on this album are good--my favorites being "Magnolia" and "Os Alquimistas...". This is a great starting point for someone wanting to discover Jorge Ben (later to be called Jorge Ben Jor). This period is much better than his his 80's and 90's bland electric funk era. Also check out "Samba Esquema Novo" to hear his early samba hits.