Bossa Nova with Jazz beats or Jazz with Bossa Nova Influence??. - This is a great album, but I agree with other reviewers, this is not your classic Sergio Mendes or the bossa nova album you are expecting. Great versions of the famous songs, no vocals with a very strong Jazz influence, you could almost say that is a Jazz record with Bossa Nova influence. So be ready to be sorprised, but still it makes a wonderful album to listen to. So enjoy it... but at the end you might ask yourselft, is this Sergio Mendes???.
From RichardatOxford. - Tracks are split between a trio and a big brass sound.Brass,in the lower register,take the forefront,both jazzy and smooth with,overall,elsewhere,flute being as prevalent as sax and trumpet (the flute is exclusive to the trio).Mendes leading from the piano,on all numbers.Drums and double bass, well presented,not drowned out.Some very good tracks: about half of the total, mostly the trio.Brass has to be very good to cut it,with me,these days.Fine musicians enjoying themselves.
Great Bossa Nova from a MASTER - The previous reviewer is exactly right, the sound here is nothing like Mendes & Brasil 66. This is bossa nova bliss, and the Sergio Mendes I prefer and care to remember. Many of these tracks are from his albums Swinger From Rio and Beat of Brazil, which were released together in 1999 on CD by the Collectables label. However, the musical clarity on this disc is of a higher quality in my opinion, despite having less tracks. This compilation is a winner from start to finish, and is the place to start if interested in the early sound of Mendes or if you just want to hear great bossa nova. I d give it ten stars if I could.
A compilation of Jazzy Bossa Nova Sergio Mendes times recorded in Brazil - This is early Sergio Mendes recorded in Brazil. Set is made up by a rhythm section plus sax and trombone, leaded by Mendes at the piano. Players are the best in place and time of Rio de Janeiro, the capital and motherland of Bossa Nova, as shown in an apropriate black-and-white photograph. Time was the 60s before Mendes moved to America.No vocals, no similarity with Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66.This is great Jazz in Bossa Nova format.A bunch of Bossa Nova classics compiled out from some of Mendes Brazilian instrumental Bossa Jazz combo albums.