In Tokyo

Joao Gilberto | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B0001M65DI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,825 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #17 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Brazilian > Tropicįlia
  • #96 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Brazilian > Bossa Nova

Editorial Reviews

GILBERTO JOAO IN TOKYO

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It sounds SO weird..., June 22, 2004

By 

Idiosyncrat (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Tokyo (Audio CD)

And I mean this in a good way. I own a number of Gilberto's albums, and this one shocked me like none of them did. The phrasing is radically different from most any other rendition of the same songs I've heard from him. This is something Gilberto is famous for, but at least I think this one album is the most striking one I've heard so far in this regard from him. (I haven't heard the 1996 Umbria Jazz recording yet, though.)

The sound is much, much clearer than the Montreux or Ao Vivo live albums, and the applause isn't as loud. The sequencing is done very well, no noticeable gaps between tracks.

I do think the performance of "Bolinha de Papel" is not very good.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe our last chance to hear this Brazilian master, June 16, 2004

By 

William Merrill "eclecticist" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In Tokyo (Audio CD)

Recorded about 18 years after Joao Gilberto's wonderful "Live In Montreux" album, the new "In Tokyo" comes close to equaling the supreme and simple beauty of the earlier classic. I personally think 5-star ratings should be reserved for things that really DESERVE the highest rating. Even my top favorite artists only produced a couple of items each that are 5-star worthy. "Live In Montreux" was a definite 5-star. Some might feel an entire concert recording with just one singer alone with his guitar would get boring, but with Mr. Gilberto, his soft vocals, gently strummed guitar, and those lovely bossa nova songs are enchanting, even mesmerizing.

Joao was about 73 years old at the time In Tokyo was made, but his style of singing is one where the effects of age are not too noticeable. Only on "Pra Que Discutir com Madame?" does he appear to get a bit lost, and there are a couple of minor stumbles elsewhere, but overall this CD is a great listening experience. There aren't quite as many "hits" here (see In Montreux for songs like "Girl From Ipanema" and "A Felicidade") but it's still a relatively magical performance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars by J.Ph. Kroeger., April 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: In Tokyo (Audio CD)

All so to say none-cariocas will love it as well. A fabulous live recording, full of joy, calm and melancholy. In Brasil, they probably would call it "saudade". Besides that, it sounds excellent. Just Mr. Gilberto's smooth voice and rhythmically astonishing, always tastefull and timeless guitar arrangements. A musical must!