LIMITED EDITION 180 GRAM LP
Elemental Music proudly presents, for the first time in 45 years, an LP reissue of one of the most underrated albums of the initial Brazilian wave, talented Bossa Nova composer and performer Edu Lobo's seminal Sergio Mendes Presents Lobo. Produced by one of Lobo's most persistent advocates, Sergio Mendes, the album overflows with cunningly devised, first-class tunes like "Ponteio," "To Say Goodbye," the marathon "Crystal Illusions," "Casa Forte," and the irresistible "Jangada." Some have Portuguese lyrics, some are in English, but others simply use sharp scatted syllables, an art at which the low-key but nimble-tongued Lobo excels. The backings strip the base of Sergio Mendes' Brasil '66 sound down to its rhythm section, fortified by the playful and enigmatic electric piano and flute multiphonics of Hermeto Pascoal (who also had a big hand in the arrangements), Airto Moreira's multifaceted percussion talents, and an occasional cello quartet. Collectors of Brazilian jazz should seek this one out; it is absolutely essential. ALL MUSIC GUIDE.
Tracklist:
Side 1
1. ZANZIBAR (4:09) (Edu Lobo)
2. PONTEIO (3:07) (Edu Lobo / Jose Carlos Capinam)
3. EVEN NOW (2:17) (Edu Lobo / Paula Stone / Lani Hall)
4. CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS (6:14) (Edu Lobo / Gianfrancesco Guarnieri / Lani Hall)
Side 2
1. CASA FORTE (3:42) (Edu Lobo)
2. JANGADA (2:28) (Edu Lobo / Jose Carlos Capinam)
3. SHARP TONGUE (2:21) (Hermeto Pascoal)
4. TO SAY GOODBYE (4:46) (Edu Lobo / Lani Hall / Torquato Neto)
5. HEY JUDE (4:15) (John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
Personnel and credits:
Edu Lobo (guitar, vocals, co-arranger, conductor), Hermeto Pascoal (flute, piano, electric piano, co-arranger), Sebastião Neto (bass), Oscar Castro- Neves (acoustic 12-string guitar), Claudio Slon (drums), Airto Moreira (percussion), Sergio Mendes (co-arranger), Gracinha Leporace (vocals on tracks B1 & B3), Ray Kramer (cello on tracks A4, B4 & B5), Ron Cooper (cello on track A4), Kurt Reher (cello on track A4), Eleanor Slatkin (cello on track A4), Norman Herzberg (bassoon on track B5). Recorded at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California, A&M Studios, Hollywood, or Sergio Mendes’ Home Studio, Encino, California, on July 22 (Tracks A1, A2, B1 & B2) and July 23 (Tracks A4 & B5), 1970. The exact dates of the other tracks remain unknown, but they were taped during the same period. Vocals and Orchestral accompaniment overdubbed later in 1970 at the studios mentioned above. [Editor’s note: Even though the exact recording dates for six of the tracks were listed on the original LP, no information was provided specifying which songs were recorded at the different locations listed above; nor was there any information listed for the remaining tracks other than that they were taped during the same period.]
Original recordings produced by Sergio Mendes. Engineers: Bart Chiate & Larry Levine.
Originally released as A&M SP-3035 in 1970. Original art direction by Roland Young. Cover photo by Guy Webster. Inside photo by Jim McCrary.
