Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

$41.95

When Stan Getz and Luiz Bonfa surprised the Americans with their first samba recording they did not imagine that this was to be their biggest success together. With such titles such as "Desafinado" and "One Note Samba", Brazilian pop music stormed the borders. So popular was the music that voices cried for more - and the VERVE producers satisfied the fans with Jazz Samba Encore. The music contained in this album delved somewhat deeper into the heart of Brazilian melodies. Bonfa and Jobim, the composers and famous guitarists, picked up their instruments and both they and their soloists, - Maria Toledo in particular proves herself a maestra of her country's music -, proceeded to delight their fans with their seemingly effortless music-making. Although he was not Brazilian and only later became a samba expert, Stan Getz fits amazingly well into this ensemble. His full tenor voice even in the upper regions and his rippling legato are wholly characteristic of his art. A delightful sound and natural rhythm - above all, rhythm! - make this record a "must" for every party. No Tracks Listed.
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$41.95

With bossa, simply everything goes and everything goes simply. A solitary voice, a simple wooden block or a solo guitar are all that are needed to conjure up the elementary forces of Brazilian music. But the great names didn't necessarily love a one-man show with a nameless band in the background but often wrote recording history by getting their individual teams together and combining their creative powers. In Lalo Schifrin and Oscar Castro Neves, the guitar virtuoso and singer Luiz Bonfa had two top musicians at his side who all left their handwriting on this album. Schifrin worked on the large string arrangements while Bonfa put his pen to the songs for smaller ensembles. Well over half of the numbers recorded here are by Bonfa, who even shared his work with himself in that he lent his voice to side one of the record and his instrumental skills to side two. And though he proves that he can go it alone, as in the popular "One Note Samba," the less well-known but hear-worthy "Samba De Duas Notas" tells us that with more of a crowd things get even better.
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$41.95

Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Behind the mysterious title Symphonie Fantastique is to be found what was undoubtedly one of the most powerful musical compositions of its day. The highly controversial discussions which this autobiographical, extraordinary work provoked are quite understandable when one considers that Beethoven and Schubert had just put down their quills for the last time and that Wagner had only just left his childhood behind him. In commenting upon the daring cyclical structure of the work, one French music critic said "In Berlioz's Symphony we believe that we have seen the prelude to a revolution in instrumental music."
In spite of being acknowledged and praised as a composer, Berlioz was never given the professorship he coveted at the Paris Conservatoire, and it might appear as if the renowned Conservatoire Orchestra was making its apologies for this in the present excellent recording. The various scenes of the intoxicating program music are presented in a low, gloomy and dark timbre until finally a heroic attitude comes to the fore, accompanied by thundering drum rolls, when the death sentence is pronounced. Fantastique!

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