Search - Les Baxter :: Colors Of Brazil / African Blue

Two original albums on one CD

08/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains two original albums of Les from the late 60's. The first 13 tunes coming from an LP originally titled "Brazil Now" (except "A Banda" which is a bonus from the "Love Is Blue" album). Most of them are well-known standards, not composed by Les, but arranged and conducted in his own special way. Please note that this is no traditional latin music, but very fine easy listening. In fact not all songs are latin stuff, but Les also brings latin moods to titles like "A Man and a Woman" (by Francis Lai) and "Born Free" (by John Barry). The remaining 12 tracks (composed by Les) representing his "African Blue" album, which (in my opinion) is fantastic. Good compositions played by great musicians. Sometimes the guitar sounds like played by Jerry Reed! Sound quality is also very good."

Dreamy Les

TheGreatEqualizer | 09/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What's wrong with Mr. Baxter giving his interpretation of Brazilian music? Why not? All I need is one rainy day, one valium and one record-lovely. This is mood music at its best."

TheGreatEqualizer

TheGreatEqualizer | LA,CA USA | 07/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Relax...here's the honest truth- the "Real Deal" so-to-speak. One of the most difficult musical genres to access is Exotica. Most people don't even know what the f@#k it is, and arguably for good reason, Its difficult to discover and represents a slightly obscure period of cultural history. But if you happen to discover it this is probably one of the best albums to date in its class. (And if you haven't discovered Exotica, this may be the stronest gateway into such a bizarre world.) Baxter now has a real "feel"--its finally groove-oriented while retaining its melodical and harmonic sense. Cooler than the at-times corny stuff that Baxter and others made before its inception while still capturing some strong essences of the original style; It should not be compared to Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova, true Brazilian genres critical to the advancment of music as an artform. You should compare it, rather, to its own soothing sense of "escapism", a product of its own invention."