A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness
Artist: Astrud Gilberto
Community Score: 4.50

It is striking how "dated" this record sounds. Even taking into consideration that this is a 1960s record, that is inevitably the first thing that any listener will notice. But ignoring the kitsch factor for a moment, one can recall that in 1966 when A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness came out, the bossa nova craze was at a peak, and the album... Read More

Look to the Rainbow
Artist: Astrud Gilberto
Community Score: 6.00

For this CD reissue the music on singer Astrud Gilberto's album Look to the Rainbow is combined with half of the songs from her following album A Certain Smile. The former session was one of the bossa nova singer's best (11 perfectly suitable songs on which her soft voice is accompanied by an orchestra arranged by Gil Evans and Al Cohn) while on... Read More

The Silver Collection: The Astrud Gilberto Album
Artist: Astrud Gilberto
Community Score: 3.67

Astrud Gilberto has never been properly anthologized by Verve Records; although they've released a number of compilations over the years, none of them have been definitive, and most of them have been rather skimpy. 1987's The Silver Collection, originally released only in Europe but later imported to North America, is an idiosyncratic selection.... Read More

Compact Jazz: Astrud Gilberto
Artist: Astrud Gilberto

For listeners new to Gilberto's classic Verve work, this edition of the label's Compact Jazz sampler series makes for a perfect introduction. Along with Verve's equally fine Silver Collection of Gilberto's prime sides, this 16-track set includes cuts from most of the singer's different projects. From her classic Getz date ("The Girl From... Read More

Amoroso/Brasil
Artist: Joćo Gilberto

Two of the influential Joćo Gilberto's LPs (Amoroso and Brasil) are combined on this single CD. The former session is pretty definitive with Gilberto interpreting four of Antonio Carlos Jobim's compositions (including "Wave" and "Triste") and four other songs (highlighted by "Besame Mucho," "Estate," and an odd 31-bar rendition of "'S... Read More

Jazz 'Round Midnight: Astrud Gilberto
Artist: Astrud Gilberto
Sergio Mendes Presents Lobo
Artist: Edu Lobo
Community Score: 10.00

Edu Lobo is (unjustly) one of the least-celebrated of the major songwriting lions of the first Brazilian wave, and a talented performer in his own right -- which his first North American album makes stunningly clear. Painstakingly produced by one of Lobo's most persistent advocates, Sergio Mendes, the album overflows with cunningly devised,... Read More