Wonderful World Of Antonio Carlos Jobim CD

Released as part of the Jobim 3CD box set (DBK-CD-600) and now available as a separate CD, this album was originally released in 1965 on Warner Bros. and was Jobim's second album for the U.S. market. Arrangements by Nelson Riddle.

If one can get past the awkward Norman Gimbel translations "She's a Carioca" and "Bonita," this is a felicitous (felicidade!) meeting between hemispheres, and not as muzaky as Jobim's later sessions with Claus Ogerman on A&M. In fact, this is one of arranger Nelson Riddle's finest dates; he truly outdoes himself on the beautifully concise "Felicidade," a lone trombone shadowing Jobim's wistful voice and emphatic guitar wherever they wander. As for Jobim, his phonetic English aside, he had the gritty vocal chops to make it as a performer in this country and elsewhere. Of course, being the greatest popular composer since Cole Porter, he really didn't have to.

Personnel: Antonio Carlos Jobim; Nelson Riddle.

Record Collector (magazine) (p.84) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The Portugese-language versions of such landmark compositions as 'Agua De Beber,' 'A Felicidade,' 'Favela (O Morro Nao Tem Vez) and Samba Do Aviao linger longest in the memory."