Magic

Magic
Sergio Mendes
OKeh, 2014 Reviewed by Trish Morgan 01-22-2015

Five decades after starting out in music, Sergio Mendez is still remaking the world in a Brazilian jazz mode. This album features collaborations with a wide range of talent. My favorite is the first track. No FCCs (at least none in English).

****1 Simbora (Let’s Go) 3:21 - Hot, fast, and swinging. What a way to start! (featuring Corlinhos Brown)
**2 Sorta Blue 3:27 - Medium tempo. Funky and loose. (featuring will.i.am and Cody Wise)
***3 Don’t Say Goodbye 3:43 - Very John Legend meets Brazilian jazz - or to put it another way Brazilian jazz goes into the late night bedroom. (featuring John Legend)
*4 Sou Eu 2:59 - Medium tempo. Classic Brazilian jazz sound, some spoken words in Portugese. Male vocalist. (featuring Seu Jorge)
5 When I Fell In Love 3:04 - Slower, more reflective. Female vocalist.
6 Meu Rio 3:14 - Medium tempo. Female vocalist sings in Portugese. A little sad, a little anthemy. (featuring Maria Gadu)
**7 Visions of You 3:38 - Medium slow. Torchy female vocalist sings in English. (featuring Janelle Monae)
***8 Samba de Roda 3:41 - Happy upbeat romp of a song. Two female singers sing in Portugese. (featuring Aila Menezes and Gracinha Leporace)
9 Atlantica 2:55 - Very slow and quiet. Female and male singing in Portugese. (featuring Ana Carolina)
10 Olha a Rua 2:46 - Med-tempo. A happy, party sort of track. Male singer in Portugese. (featuring Milton Nascimento)
11 Hidden Waters 3:02 - Mid-tempo. Female vocalist singing in English. Feels open and spacious. (featuring Gracinha Leporace)
****12 Magic 4:01 - Some great sax work introduces this track, which then ventures into gentle chorus work. Probably one of the least Brazilian tunes on the album, but a real gem. Sax and piano talking to each other. (featuring Scott Mayo)
***13 One Nation 3:31 - Peppy anthem. Gets you up and bopping. (featuring Corlinhos Brown)