Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Fool on the Hill (Vinyl, A&M Records, 1968) ***
Charlie Byrd Delicately (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1968) ***
Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfa Jazz Samba Encore! (Vinyl, Verve Records, 1963) ****
Jim Hall Concierto (Vinyl, CTI Records, 1975) ****
They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8
Active compensatory factors: Sérgio Mendes has appeared in the countdown already with his jazzy solo album, The Great Arrival) and his second album with Brasil '66 called Equinox - these were both from my father's collection. He was a fan, as was my father-in-law (Brian Smith). These two albums come from his collection.
Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 was this configuration's debut album. Brasil '66 on this album (and Equinox) is: Sérgio on piano, keyboards and backing vocals; Lani Hall – lead vocals; Bibi Vogel – backing vocals; Bob Matthews – bass, backing vocals; José Soares – percussion, backing vocals; João Palma – drums.
The formula he began here was to have two American female voices singing in English and Portuguese over a bossa nova rhythm/vocal section. Along with this he contributed some tasteful jazz-oriented piano.
The Fool on the Hill came out in 1968 with a change of line-up, although Lani Hall remains a constant, as does the winning 'jazz-Brasil-pop' sound (to quote Derek). The highlight: Fool on the Hill is a perfect song for this approach.
Stan Getz is joined by Luis Bonfa (guitar), Antonio Carlos Jobin (guitar) and others on this jazz samba celebration. Stan is amazing on this album. This is perfect relaxing with a cocktail on the deck on a summer's day music.
Genre: Easy listening, jazz
Places I remember: Brian Smith Collection, The Little Red Bookshop, JB Hi Fi, Vinyl Room, Vinyl Vault Plus
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Mas Que Nada (Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66)
Gear costume: Daytripper (Herb Alpert Presents...)
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Mas Que Nada (Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66)
Gear costume: Daytripper (Herb Alpert Presents...)
Active compensatory factors: Sérgio Mendes has appeared in the countdown already with his jazzy solo album, The Great Arrival) and his second album with Brasil '66 called Equinox - these were both from my father's collection. He was a fan, as was my father-in-law (Brian Smith). These two albums come from his collection.
Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 was this configuration's debut album. Brasil '66 on this album (and Equinox) is: Sérgio on piano, keyboards and backing vocals; Lani Hall – lead vocals; Bibi Vogel – backing vocals; Bob Matthews – bass, backing vocals; José Soares – percussion, backing vocals; João Palma – drums.
His poppy arrangements of songs from Brazil, the UK and the US got off to a great start with the lead off track - Mas Que Nada. Their version of Daytripper is also a treat, but the whole album is a lot of fun (in the sun).
BTW #1: The completist in me enjoys the fact that getting hold of this album completes the Mendes sequence from 1965 (The Great Arrival) to 1967 (Equinox). BTW #2: The inimitable Derek Taylor provides the liner notes to Herb Alpert Presents...
Charlie Byrd is a jazz guitarist. Delicately sounds beautiful - very restful and meditative. The guitar, flute, bass combo makes for a very baroque sound at times. It reminds me a little of the Claude Bolling jazz albums with flute and piano.
Jim Hall is an American guitarist with a long history. I'm generally not a huge fan of jazz guitar but for Charlie Byrd and Jim Hall I'm prepared to make exceptions, particularly when Jim has Paul Desmond onboard along with Steve Gadd and Ron Carter providing the rhythm section. Plus, Chet Baker on trumpet means that this was possibly THE coolest band EVER!
Where do they all belong? I think that's enough albums by Mendes and his crew, but you never know.
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