Studio Rio
Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection | |
---|---|
Bossa Nova | |
Length | 36:58 |
Label | Legacy Recordings |
Producer | Berman Brothers |
Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection is an album of well-known songs arranged for samba and bossa nova. The recording was published in digital formats, on vinyl record, and as a compact disc in 2014 by Legacy Recordings. Song versions were arranged and performed by Studio Rio, a band of Brazilian musicians specializing in the bossa nova and samba genres. Notable members include Roberto Menescal and Marcos Valle.
The album's release was timed to coincide with the
Development and Composition
In an interview with the
The Bermans expressed an intention to take the album on a tour, with stops to include London, New York, Amsterdam, and Berlin. The tour will feature the live performances of the instrumentalists while using recordings of the original vocal artists.[2]
And they had the production assistance in Brazil of producer Ronaldo Mendonça.
Reception
"Studio Rio: The Brazil Connection" ranked seventh on KCRW's list of 25 top-played albums.[3] The compilation was well received by the music critics. The Scottish Express noted that the tracks featuring Bill Withers' "Lovely Day," Andy Williams' "Music To Watch Girls By," and Nina Simone's "I Wish I Knew What It Means To Be Free" elicit a "summery feel."[4] Huffington Post music writer, Mike Ragogna wrote that the album's version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" was now his favorite because the new version replaced the "dated electronics" giving the song a "new sensuous world."[1] The Wall Street Journal describes the album's new sound as "sultry."[5]
In his blog, music reviewer Marc Myers said that, when the compilation first came to his attention, he was afraid that it would be as lifeless as the Verve recordings of the jazz standards. So he was surprised to find that the new album is lively and original while also being respectful to the original artists. "The vocals were left unmarred while the original drum box and wah-wah instrumental was replaced by a spirited bossa nova," he wrote.[6] The Sun Herald praised the "newly minted versions" of Holliday's "You've Changed," Isley Brothers "It's Your Thing," and Mel Torme's "I've Got You Under My Skin."[7]
Track listings
- Bill Withers with Studio Rio - Lovely Day
- Aretha Franklin with Studio Rio - Walk On By
- Marvin Gaye with Studio Rio - Sexual Healing
- Billie Holiday with Studio Rio - You've Changed
- Sly & The Family Stone with Studio Rio - Family Affair
- The Isley Brothers with Studio Rio - It's Your Thing
- Mel Torme with Studio Rio - I've Got You Under My Skin
- Nina Simone with Studio Rio – I Wish I Knew What It Means To Be Free
- Johnny Nash with Studio Rio - I Can See Clearly Now
- Dave Brubeck with Carmen McRae with Studio Rio - Take 5
- Andy Williams with Studio Rio - Music To Watch Girls By
- Sarah Vaughan with Studio Rio – Summertime
References
- ^ a b c Ragogna, Mike (9 July 2014). "Chats With Ivan Neville and The Berman Brothers, Plus Exclusives by Geneviéve Bellemare, Home Video and Dream Alive". Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Maria, Julio (11 April 2014). "Brazilians create arrangements for classic jazz and soul 60s". Estado. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "KCRW's Top 25 Most Played Albums". Kcrw.com. KCRW. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Esson, Dave (20 June 2014). "ALBUM REVIEWS; Weekend Music". Scottish Express. Lexis Nexis.
- ^ Myers, Marc (20 June 2014). "Soul Classics Get a Samba Twist". online.wsj.com. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Myers, Marc (23 June 2014). "Studio Rio: Brazil Connection". JazzWax. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Flake, Ricky (10 July 2014). "Miles, a Movie/TV Bad Guy and Studio Rio". sunherald.com. Sun Herald. Retrieved 1 August 2014.