Bom Tempo

For his follow-up to 2008’s Encanto, another “enchanted celebration” of the Brazilian songbook, Mendes returns with his refreshing and invigorating new Concord Records collection, Bom Tempo. The melodies are indelible, the explosive percussion is exciting, the harmony-laced singing exhilarates, and the arrangements exude both celebration and romance. “This is bom tempo music, good times music,” says the Brazilian-born, U.S.-based producer- composer pianist-keyboardist-arranger- who sought to sum up the CD with a succinct Portuguese title. “It’s all about the good times, good weather, good tempos. The album is about the diversity, joy and sensuality of Brazilian music—songs I previously recorded and some that I never have—played by Brazilian and American musicians.

"Little Wonder" is the desire to regain the intimate size that is the essence of their duo Petra and Ferruccio, vocals and bass. Among the 11 cover of the album is "Is This Love" where for the first time, the duo approaches the reggae of Bob Marley, here totally transformed, "Practical Arrangement" Sting "modern classic" example of sophisticated pop. There are also references to song writing Italian and foreign "an old mistake" of Paolo Conte and a beautiful and intense reworking of a song of Gilbert Becaud as "Quand il est mort the poete". Between the covers of famous songs Italian stands the brilliant French version of "Same beach, same sea" entitled "Tout s'arrange Quand on s'aime" and then "You're strong father" famous children's song brought to success by Gianni Morandi.