Brazil meets Germany
Barbara J. Major | Upper Darby, PA United States | 01/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album was Jobim's formal introduction to the U.S. audience with a record of his own. This album was also the beginning of a relationship - a Brazilian meeting a German - someone with whom Jobim would eventually make seven albums. This is nothing short of historic and U.S. producer Creed Taylor alone is responsible for it. Jobim came to the U.S. without an arranger; he was at the mercy of producer Creed, who almost without reservation recommended someone named Claus Ogerman who had only been working in the U.S. since 1959. Creed had already heard a bit of Claus' work by this time and just knew they would be right for each other.
Claus' work for Jobim so impressed him that Claus was asked to arrange more and more LPs for Tom. Tom eventually wound up calling Claus "The Meister" and one listen to this LP will tell anyone WHY. After all the study I have done on both these men, I am firmly convinced that Jobim time and time again would have continued to use Claus as his arranger - if Claus had agreed. It is clear from everything I know that the feeling was mutual and that Claus considered Tom a VERY good friend. They even spent "after hours" together in conversation about the subjects that interested Jobim: the environment, music, the classics - everything. Claus declined to arrange for Tom again after 1980 only due to wanting to spend the majority of his time composing classical music and therefore forsaking his arranging days...I have a feeling that even after 1980, Tom would continue to call Claus just to see if he had indeed changed his mind...
So, we have two heavyweight talents on this album - the mighty Tom Jobim with his sweet bossa novas - and Claus Ogerman with his equally sweet treatment of those wonderful melodies and harmonies. Listen carefully to the talents of both men and see how on each track, their work compliments each other.
When you don't feel so right with the world or are having a bad day, listen to a track on this album and see for yourself if you don't almost instantly feel better. This is an extremely uplifting album in so many ways - the tracks will make your spirit soar!"
