Timeless

To be clear, I am a big Sergio Mendes fan. I have always appreciated his musical sensibilities: smooth, sophisticated, eclectic. Perhaps the original "world music purveyor." I have derived enjoyment from every one of his musical incarnations/combinations, through the sixties, seventies, and beyond.TIMELESS is a gift to the fans from yesteryear, as well an awesome opportunity to introduce the maestro's special gift to a whole new generation. That special, unique ability to synthesize the best talents, beats and melodies into a delightful musical platter, the way a master chef does with various ingredients to produce a memorable meal.This album, in fact, caused me to re-visit original SM collections, and even purchase two or three that I did not previously own. And...that exploration led me to appreciate SM and his former associates even more.The fact that so many of today's brightest seized the opportunity to make a contribution to this project is a testament to the respect he has engendered from the musical community, as well. The contribution of Will.i.am of the Black Eye Peas is very big, and lends the project a contemporary sheen and hip-hop flavor, in the best sense. But, to be sure, the entire underpinning of this project is that joyful, melodic, breezy, deceptively simple samba/bossa feel. Plenty of percussion punctuates the music in that special, Latin/Brazilian way. The overall sound is wonderfully organic and acoustic; Mr. Mendes wouldn't have it any other way. It's a treat to have input from Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, John Legend, Justin Timberlake. Each seems to relish his or her part in this project, and it shows big-time. India Arie is superb on the title cut.In addition, there are several occasions where "original" SM & SM and Brasil '66 music is re-visited and even excerpted. For example, the orchestral intro to Justin Timberlake's tune is actually and directly lifted from the "So Many Stars" cut from the LOOK AROUND album from '67. And, on the cut "That Heat," a good bit of the tune "Slow, Hot Wind" [written by Henry Mancini] is incorporated, including a beautifully sung phrase by the incomparable vocalist Lani Hall [a/k/a Mrs. Herb Alpert], the prominent singer featured in Brasil '66. And, some of the original tunes that are covered here are actually expanded and elaborated, and, in many cases, I dare say, improved. [There were cuts on the first few A&M label albums that barely lasted 2 minutes.] Some of these re-workings are glorious.But...appreciation often requires an open mind and a realization that artists grow and adapt---as is their privilege. When you are still reasonably young and still making music you wish to be heard, it sometimes involves getting with a [somewhat] new program.This set is a gem...a treat from beginning to end, if you can appreciate wonderful Brazilian music with a slightly urban twist.I dare say that there would be much less conflict in the world if we all got together to "make a joyful noise." This project sets a fine example toward that end. If we could only learn...

Mendes's "Fool on the Hill" was one of the first albums that this then fifteen-year-old bought with his allowance. Thus began an almost forty-year love affair with the Brazilian's sound. One can't imagine my excitement when I learned of the release of "Timeless," his first album of new music in over a decade.And what an album it is!!! The disc is an outstanding blend of the old and the new, with cuts to satisfy the contemporary crowd as well as those of us with nostalgia of the soul.Though the album features guest performances from the likes of Justin Timberlake to Jill Scott to John Legend, the best cuts are those that harkens back to the cool 1960's, adding a new dimension with rap and modern rhythms. The revisit of "Mais Que Nada," "Berimbau/Consolacao" (featuring vocals by Gracinha Leporace and a killer hamonica solo from Stevie Wonder), "Bananeira," the title cut (with India.Arie on vocals), "Lamento (No Morro)," "Yes, Yes Y'All," and "Samba Da Bencao," are thrilling in every way and certain to appeal to an international audience.Bravo for Mendes and, hopefully, with the utilization of modern stars, he will reach a young audience that will discover one of music's legendary innovators.

I enjoy the VARIETY OF ARTIST ON THIS CD & I LIKE it! The music goes anywhere from a 'lil Samba, jazz, light 'RAP' and overall variety of music that puts you in different moods, in a good & stimulating way!

HE SIDO UN ADMIRADOR DE SERGIO POR DECADAS, SIEMPRE ADULANDO SUS GRABACIONES Y ESPERANDO SIN CESAR NOTICIAS DE SUS SIGUIENTES DISCOS, Y ESTA COLECCION DE GRANDES CANCIONES PROMETIA DEMASIADO, PERO LAMENTABLEMENTE LA COMBINACION QUE SE GENERA EN ESTE DISCO ES NADA MAS NI NADA MENOS QUE UNA VERDADERA ABERRACION (POR NO DECIR PORQUERIA). HAN DESTROZADO LITERALMENTE ESTAS BELLAS JOYAS DE LA EPOCA DE LA BOSSA NOVA CON VULGARIDADES COMO EL RAP; ES EN OTRAS PALABRAS COMO PONERLE SALSA PICOSA EN VEZ DE FRESAS A UN PASTEL DE QUESO.ES UN VERDAERO SACRILEGIO LO LOGRADO EN ESTA DESEPCION DE DISCO.CREO QUE SI SERGIO QUIERE SEGUIR EN AUGE Y ESTAR A LA VANGUARDIA, DEBE CHECAR EJEMPLOS DE OTROS GRANDES BRASILEIROS CONTEMPORANEOS DE EL QUE DE VERDAD ESTAN PEGANDOLE FUERTE PERO DE MANERA FINA SIN VULGARIDADES COMO MARCOS VALLE, AZYMUTH, LOS IPANEMAS, JOAO DONATO Y GENTE DE CALIBRE COMO ELLOS. SOLO DOS O TRES CANCIONES SON RESCATABLES, DE AHI EN FUERA EVITENLO SI ES POSIBLE.FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SPEAK SPANISH I'LL SUMMARIZE BY SAYING THAT THIS ABERRATION OF CD IS THE WORST POSSIBLE COMBINATION (UNBELIEVABLY FROM A BRAZILIAN LIKE SERGIO MENDES) EVER MADE TO SACRED BRAZILIAN CLASSICS BY ADDING THE VULGARITY OF "RAP" (WHICH ACTUALLY WHENEVER THEY SANG THAT ABERRATION, THEY DON'T EVEN SING ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL LYRICS LIKE THE DESTRUCTION THEY MADE OF "MAS QUE NADA" AND HE SHOULD KNOW THAT)IF SERGIO WANTS TO STAY "MODERNIZED" OR "UP-TO-DATE" HE SHOULD LOOK TO OTHER BRAZILIAN MASTERS WHO ARE HIS AGE, AND WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO IN "STYLE" LIKE MARCOS VALLE, JOAO DONATO, AZYMUTH, OS IPANEMAS, ETC. ETC., SO IF YOU ARE A SERIOUS MUSIC LOVER, STAY AWAY FROM THIS DISFIGURED MUTANT AT ALL COSTS..........