Antonio Carlos Jobim / Elis Regina Ellis & Tom CD

Live Recording

/Elis Regina.
Personnel: Antonio Carlos Jobim (vocals, piano, acoustic guitar); Elis Regina (vocals); Cesar Camargo Mariano (piano, electric piano); Helio Delmiro (acoustic & electric guitars); Oscar Castro Nieves (acoustic guitar); Luizao Maia (bass); Paulo Braga (drums).
Recorded at MGM Studios, Los Angeles, California between February 22 and March 9, 1974. Includes liner notes by Neil Tesser.
Includes bonus DVD audio disc containing 5.1 mix.
Personnel: Antonio Carlos Jobim (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, piano); Elis Regina (vocals); Helio Delmiro (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Oscar Castro-Neves (guitar, acoustic guitar); César Camargo Mariano (acoustic guitar, piano, electric piano); Paulinho Braga (drums); Chico Batera (percussion).
Audio Remasterer: Seigen Ono.
Liner Note Author: Neil Tesser.
Recording information: MGM Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA (02/22/1974-03/09/1974); MGM Studio, Los Angeles, CA (02/22/1974-03/09/1974); MGM, Los Angeles, CA (02/22/1974-03/09/1974).
Author: Elis Regina.
Arrangers: Antonio Carlos Jobim; César Camargo Mariano.
In 1974, bossa nova innovator Antonio Carlos Jobim teamed up with Elis Regina, one of Brazil's finest and most beloved singers, for a recording that ranks among the best Brazilian pop albums ever. Jobim's compositions are renowned for their melodicism and intricacy, and they are beautifully showcased here. This is largely due to Regina's masterfully subtle and breathy performances (listen to her slow reading of "Corcovado" for a case study in perfection), but everything about this disc, from the clear, tasteful arrangements to the way the voice of Jobim and Regina interact, is a delight. Alongside select albums by Joao Gilberto and Caetano Veloso, ELIS & TOM is a must-have for even the most casual Brazilian fan.
This beautiful -- and now legendary -- recording date between iconic Brazilian vocalist Elis Regina and composer, conductor, and arranger Tom Jobim is widely regarded as one of the greatest Brazilian pop recordings. It is nearly ubiquitous among Brazilians as a household item. Regina's voice is among the most loved in the history of Brazilian music. Her range and acuity, her unique phrasing, and her rainbow of emotional colors are literally unmatched, and no matter the tune or arrangement, she employs most of them on these 14 cuts. Another compelling aspect of this recording is the young band Jobim employs here and allows pretty free rein throughout. He plays piano on eight of these tracks, and guitar on two others, but the fluid, heightened instincts of these players -- guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, Luizao Maia on bass, drummer Paulinho Braga, and pianist César Mariano -- reveal them to be at the top of their game for this rather informal date that does include a few numbers with a full orchestra. That said, most of these songs were completed as first takes with very little overdubbing. The ballads are stunning -- check"Modinha," written and arranged by Jobim. The chart, even with an orchestral backing, is amazingly terse because the composer knew Regina worked best within minimal settings. Only two minutes and 16 seconds in length, it nonetheless captures the Portuguese notion of "saudade" perfectly. Of course, most of these tunes are bossa novas. The opening "Aguas de Março" features a deceptively simple cat-and-mouse vocal call and response, kicking the disc off on a light, cheerful note; it's a delightful and very sophisticated number, but it feels effortless. "Triste" is one of Jobim's finest tunes, and there is scarcely a better version of it than this one. Even with electric guitars (complete with a semi-funky solo in the middle eight) on top of the nylon strings, the gauzy yet pronounced rhythms and the languid melody delivered by Regina are gorgeous. "Corcovado" is done with an orchestra, full of lilting flutes and a deep string backdrop. It is mournful and sensual. Jobim plays guitar and pian