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The Astrud Gilberto Album

 
Album Review: The Astrud Gilberto Album

Review

Astrud Gilberto became an accidental success when her fragile command of English made her the de facto choice to sing "The Girl from Ipanema" at a session led by Stan Getz and her husband, João Gilberto. Of course, despite its overwhelming success, it wasn't clear that she could sustain a career when she recorded her first solo LP, The Astrud Gilberto Album. She had sounded more like an amateurish novelty act than a recording professional, her voice was sweet but fragile, and the Getz/Gilberto album had featured two strong voices, with Gilberto herself an afterthought (albeit a commercially effective afterthought). But The Astrud Gilberto Album was at least as good as Getz/Gilberto (despite what jazz fans say), for several reasons. The Brazilian repertoire plays particularly well to traditionally weak vocalists, her voice was yet more sweet than had been heard previously, and as before, the record featured two strong leaders -- arranger Marty Paich and the incomparable Antonio Carlos Jobim. Paich's strings positively coated the album with radiance, and his choices for lead instrumental voices -- Bud Shank's flute, João Donato's piano, Jobim's guitar -- complemented her vocals perfectly. Gilberto sounded beautiful on a range of material, from the sentimental "Dindi" to the playful "Agua de Beber," and as long as intelligent musicians were playing to her strengths (as they do here), the results were splendid. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Once I Loved Ray Gilbert, Vinícius de Moraes, Antonio Carlos Jobim Astrud Gilberto (2:14)
Agua de Beber Vinícius de Moraes, Astrud Gilberto Astrud Gilberto (2:20)
Meditation (Lyrics) Norman Gimbel, Newton Mendonça, Antonio Carlos Jobim Astrud Gilberto (2:42)
And Roses and Roses João Gilberto, Dorival Caymmi Astrud Gilberto (2:37)
O Morro (Não Tem Vez) Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes Astrud Gilberto (2:59)
How Insensitive (Lyrics) Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes Astrud Gilberto (2:50)
Dindi João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Aloysio Oliveira Astrud Gilberto (2:44)
Photograph Antonio Carlos Jobim Astrud Gilberto (2:12)
Dreamer Gene Lees, Antonio Carlos Jobim Astrud Gilberto (2:03)
Só Finha de Ser Com Você Aloysio Oliveira, Antonio Carlos Jobim Astrud Gilberto (2:22)
All That's Left Is to Say Goodbye Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Astrud Gilberto Astrud Gilberto (3:13)

Credits

Marty Paich (Conductor), David Hassinger (Engineer), Milt Bernhart (Trombone), Kevin Reeves (Mastering), Bud Shank (Sax (Alto)), Creed Taylor (Producer), Marty Paich (Arranger), Val Valentin (Director of Engineering), Bud Shank (Flute), Jack Maher (Liner Notes), Guildhall String Ensemble (?), Jack Maher (Original Liner Notes), Isabelle Wong (Design), Astrud Gilberto (Vocals), Michael Malatak (Cover Design), Stu Williamson (Trumpet), Cameron Mizell (Production Coordination), Hollis King (Art Direction), Rudy Van Gelder (Mastering), Antonio Carlos Jobim (Vocals), Harry Weinger (Reissue Supervisor), João Donato (Piano), Joe Mondragon (Bass), Antonio Carlos Jobim (Guitar)
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Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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