Farewell To A Legend
"Tom" Jobim died only a few months after this concert, so it was one of his last performances. He was truly a legend and if you love music you really need to acquaint yourself with his. Beautifully complex rhythms and harmonies that do not wear thin with repeated listening--the hallmark of great music. Even without understanding the lyrics his music evokes combinations of deep emotions, including a sad/sweet longing that has no English translation from the Portuguese. I'll not mention all of the artists that appear in this concert, but only draw your attention to Gal Costa, who has become one of my favorite Brazilian singers. Check out her earlier CDs. You will not be disappointed!

Impressive
Before watching this DVD I had never heard of Gal Costa. What a pleasant surprise to see her perform. Antonio himself appears in this one for Luiza and Wave: very nice. I couldn't appreciate John Henricks performance, too much scatting and not very good. That's just my opinion. Gonzalo Rubalcaba didn't impress me either. For me, the real standout performance was by Gal Costa. She does very cool A Felicidade with Herbie; and then an amazing So Todos Fossem Iguais a Voce. Also, Herbie is an amazing keyboard player. It is as though the instrument is part of him. Buy it!

Wow!! Brazilian Star-Studded Music w/the Master (A.C.Jobim)
It was a great honor to see this event on DVD. This event is a post-cardio-problem concert of Mr. Jobim. He still held his hands steadily and played beautifully while entertaining us for a short while during the tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. He played remarkably well and one could see that he was trying to maintain his haltar on his side rib/chest area. [I remembered in 1990 he had suffered a heart attack and his concert was in jeopardy of being cancelled; however, he tended to the all-star gala in 1991! I was preparing to see him.]

I am mostly proud of all of the band members: Mr. HERBIE HANCOCK [a true and fine pianist of our era], OSCAR CASTRO NEVES, the ever delightful Miss SHIRLEY HORN, Mr. GONZALO RUBALCABA [remarkable pianist], GAL COSTA (what a delight she was in this concert! Her voice raw and purified as fine river water flowing from las montañas de Copa!!), Mr. JON HENDRICKS (My Satchmo the 2nd, his voice as crisp as his sailor hat), RON CARTER (a fine bassist as always, mimicking Mr. Eddie Calhoun)and other fine deliciously in-tune musicians. They ALL WERE REMARKABLE!! I AM PROUD TO HAVE PURCHASED THIS EVENT ON DVD. Thanks once more to all who have assisted in making this a dream for me to have in my possession forever and ever... Thank you. **AB**

Not another All-Star Tribute?
If you're wary of the typical "all-star tribute"--the protracted, over-the-top, star-studded, greatest hits extravaganza that manages to leave you unable to watch another minute but somehow still hungry for more--you owe it to yourself to set aside your misgivings and experience this concert. Although you will hear some of Jobim's greatest hits, you'll also be treated to a few not-so-well-known songs that deserve to be better known, like "Olha Maria," performed solo by pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and "Luiza," performed by Tom Jobim himself, who takes the stage mid-concert with no introduction. In fact, his entrance pretty much sums up the unassuming, sophisticated style that made Jobim and his music so special--he simply walks out, greets the band and the audience, sits down at the piano, and plays and sings. Marred only by careless film editing that sometimes shows close-ups of musicians obviously playing something other than what you're hearing, this program is a beautiful, bittersweet "good-bye" to Jobim, who continues to leave us hungry for more.

Tribute Recorded in a Brazilian Jazz Festival

Shirley Horn, Herbie Hancock, Jon Hendricks, Gonzalo Rubalcaba in a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim as recorded in São Paulo. A sensational Bossa Nova session ends the show in an all-star performance. Very good.