Search - Joao Gilberto :: Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar

Good, But Not Up To Joao's High Standards

John W. Breen | Georgetown, TX USA | 09/29/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As a follower of Joao's since the mid-'60s, I still had no idea this one was out there -- and has been since '95, apparently (blush).I was tipped off, raced to get it, and home to spin it. It's Joao, alright, and he's got to be around 70. (Because I'm 60.) The oxymoronish, incredible "masculine intimacy" of Joao's voice prevails, reigns, and his unique guitar chords are marvelously, innovatively all over the place. His beat is inimitable, as always. Just Joao and his guitar. The way it should be.It's a Sony production. No liner notes (too bad). Cover says "it's live." ("Ao vivo"). Yet there was applause following some songs, a certain indication of "live"; but no intermittent anything on others. Yes, in several places he goes right from one song into the next -- a trilogy or two or three -- as designed.Biggest disappointment: Raggedy technical transitions from the endings of some songs to the beginnings of the next in (too) many instances. Not Joao's fault. Clumsy studio engineering, in my humble opinion. Makes me think he had no control over the production of this CD. His standards are lofty. Impeccable. It's like someone taped it, ran out the door, and put a CD out in a week, unbeknownst to Joao.Still, da man's da man (and part musical god). Now if he and his equally sexy-sounding daughter, Gebel Gilberto, (she with her own neat, nifty, new, soft, sensuous [if over-engineered] CD "Tanto Tempo") would team up on, say, a duet CD combining, overlapping, intertwining "Este Se Olhar" with "Sim, Promesas Fiz" and some other guy/gal standards, wow! Que coisa! :-)Meanwhile, this'll do as a sunset salute to a great career. Thanks for the inspiration and memories, Joao! Voce e ainda de mais!"

There is beauty in simplicity

Don O. | Canada | 12/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Ao Vivo" ("live") is proof that there is beauty in simplicity. João Gilberto is featured here with only his "voz e violao", that is, voice and guitar. His masterful playing of the guitar and his singing that defined the bossa nova movement are a welcome respite in the predominance of mediocrity in popular music today. That several of the songs in this album were written by Antonio Carlos Jobim is no accident. Jobim was the quintessential bossa nova songwriter; Gilberto was his eloquent messenger.



The only drawback on this CD is its lack of liner notes and the careless editing and sequencing of the tracks. Don't let that deter you, though. What really matters is João Gilberto's music.



Whether you understand Portuguese or not is not the question. If you can appreciate sincerity, simplicity and lyricism, then you will appreciate "Ao Vivo" for it speaks to your heart in a language that anyone can understand.



"Ao Vivo" is simply a beautiful album."

My favorite of Joao's live recordings.

Steve | Calgary, Alberta Canada | 05/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My second favorite is Live in Montreux. I just listened to Joao's new one Live in Tokyo and I must say, this album -Ao Vivo- is far superior, not in recording quality (although it's really good) but in FEELING. It's what they call the "beautiful sadness". I listened to it when I was really down and out, and it seemed to me that Joao was like a benevolent angel- consoling me, with Portugese lyrics I couldn't understand! That's the power of music!"