Search - Astrud Gilberto :: Talkin' Verve: Roots Of Acid Jazz

Bossa Nova NO-NO!

07/20/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"As a massive Astrud fan I was attracted by the number of titles on this collection that I'd not previously heard - on the first listen I realised why they'd escaped my attention for so long. A few of the tracks are hallmark Astrud, a few are 'bad' Astrud and a few are just awful in every way. Even the sleeve notes refer to several of the tracks very negatively which begs the question - what is the point? Astrud had moments of sheer genius, some points of popular appeal and some moments of absolute dodginess - unfortunately if you listened to this album your impression of AG would be a second rate, cover version crooner. Avoid this recording and stick to The Silver Collection or the awesome Verve Jazz Masters CD to hear Astrud Gilberto's inadvertent genius in all it's glory."

Cover version crooner? Yes. But she's a classy one...

jon sieruga | Redlands, CA USA | 01/06/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you're attuned to her approach to jazz as a bossa nova-lite/ pop-hybrid, no Astrud Gilberto CD can be all bad. These songs are all available elsewhere(and since the CD booklet here has nothing much to offer, you might want to stick with the actual albums), but her version of "Holiday" really IS jazzy and the opener "Beginnings" is fabulously funky. She's dreamy and intimate when she has to be, but Astrud also swings surprisingly well and this compilation captures a piece of that excitement. 'B'"