Brazil's Contribution to Jazz and Music in General
Bruno Leonardo | Rio de Janeiro - Brazil | 03/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being myself a brazilian, I just can't avoid being proud of the inspiration that Tom Jobim's music brought to the jazz world. Listening to this album, I came to the conclusion that american jazz, despite its richness and diversity, would lack some sweet melody flavour if it wasn't influenced by the bossa nova movement. In the first suite of this wonderful "Double Rainbow", Joe teams up with a crew of brazilian musicians like Nico Assumpção (bass) and Eliane Elias (piano), that were very efficient at marking a clear line between the brazilian jazz playing style and the american one, brilliantly represented by musicians like Herbie Hancock(piano) and Christian McBride(acoustic bass). The highlights are "Boto", a group performance of amazing beauty that reaches perfection,"Triste", maybe the most fluid track of the album and "Lygia", the unforgettable tune of the brazilian master. If Tom was born in America, he would certainly stand alongside Cole Porter and George Gershwin in the pantheon of american immortal song writers. Definitely, this album is a must-buy for any serious jazz fan. It is strange to see how this album remains unknown or underrated by most of jazz listeners. It never appears in any "top 10 or 15 jazz albums of all time" list and it undoubtedly deserves it."
Jobim as never before
jimjazz | Cornwall, UK | 12/04/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joe Henderson's interpretations provide a stunning reminder that there is still much to be done with the music of Carlos Jobim. The two sets, recorded in New York and Rio, differ in the raw edge brought to bear by the Brazilian players with their incredibly subtle shifts of emphasis and timing. Henderson floats over it all with a range of tone and approach that point up Jobim's brilliance in finding alternative harmonic patterns. This album is more than a simple tribute - it is a technical and emotional masterpiece. However many times you play it, you will never hear it in quite the same way - it changes your perceptions every time. Superb."
Wonderful from start to finish
G. Sawaged | Canada | 12/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album was recorded in two different sections, or "Suites". The first Suite was recorded using some of Brazils best known jazz musicians...Eliane Elias, Oscar Castro-Neves, Nico Assumpcao, and Paulo Braga. Unfortunately, Jobim who was scheduled to play piano on that Suite, came down with health problems just days before recording and was unable to, and so Eliane was substituted. The 2nd Suite features some of Americas best loved jazz musicians, to give it a North American feel, and features Christian McBride, Herbie Hancock and Jack DeJohnette. And soaring above everybody is the beautiful sax of Joe Henderson. This is truly a wonderful jazz album, and a huge tribute to a wonderful musician, Antonio Carlos Jobim."
Herbie Hancock achieves Perfection here !!!
Dihelson Mendonca | CRATO- BRAZIL | 08/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is Fantastic in many ways. We all know the Genius called Tom Jobim and his compositions. In this album, we have a good opportunity to listen how different musicians, native and non-native Brazilian musicians play Tom Jobim's music. Although Brazilian drummer choosen for that played the bossa-nova style as if bossa nova itself hasn't evoluted (he plays as we played in mid 60's ) (Today, in Brazil we have a totally different approach to the style), the result it is very good because the CD contains many good musicians. But, as a Jazz pianist myself, I made this review just to remark the INCREDIBLE presence of Herbie Hancock on this CD. He is so outstanding in his solos that he practically dominates the CD. He made such wonderful solos that ofuscated even Joe Henderson Sax. And that climax was on "No more Blues (chega de Saudade)". Incredible ! If you heard it, you won't miss Bud Powell nor Chick Corea...:)) Listening is believing."