Milton Nascimento Clube Da Esquina (1972) {emi Odeon}

To lovers of Brazilian jazz, the pairing of these two legends of the genre amounts to something of a musical orgasm. The only serious misfire isn't really that bad, just a bit incongruous. Why would two consummate Brazilian ambassadors choose to do their one English lyric song – George Harrison's "Something" – as a reggae tune? The groove is silly, but actually some of the guitar work is fun. Just as when Ivan Lins sings in his native Portuguese rather than stilted English, this tandem is most at home conveying emotions that go beyond simple semantics, usually with Gil writing the music and Nascimento the lyrics. "Sebastian" is a moody bass-and-drum driven power ballad which functions as a showcase to their raspy vocals. The romantic, accordion-enhanced "Duas Sanfonas" would be more effective without the guest vocals by Sandy and Junior.

Digitally remastered collection from the Brazilian pop icon of the MPB. The 20 songs come primarily from his golden recording era in the 1970's and 80's and includes classics like "O Cio da Terra" (performed with Chico Buarque), a Lennon/McCartney tribute (live), "Cancao do Nova Mundo", "Maria Maria" and many more.

Although several of Nascimento's most familiar songs are contained in this debut American release, Milton (Minas) (referring to his home state of Minas Gerais) is a remarkably cohesive piece of work that stands as one of his finest. It includes famous tunes "Carvo e Canela" and "Nada Sera como Antes."

This is a striking example of the essential Milton Nascimento that has made him a beloved figure in Brazil - a lush, eloquent, unified concept album that cries for universal happiness and personal fulfillment, lashes out briefly at hypocrisy, and haunts the memory with its often stirring tunes. The record opens boldly with a tone poem accurately entitled "Evocation of the Mountains," and a gorgeous lengthy opening vocalese with a plush string backdrop, and it ends simply with the unadorned voice of Nascimento urging us not to analyze things if we want to be happy.