🎷 AotW: CTI Astrud Gilberto: Gilberto with Turrentine (CTI Records CTI 6008)

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1673467526761.pngAstrud Gilberto: Gilberto with Turrentine

CTI Records CTI 6008
Released 1971
  • A1: Wanting Things 2:35
  • A2: Brazilian Tapestry 5:10
  • A3: To A Flame 3:17
  • A4: Solo El Fin (For All We Know) 3:10
  • A5: Zazueira 3:40
  • B1: Ponteio 3:35
  • B2: Travelling Light 3:25
  • B3: Vera Cruz 5:05
  • B4: Historia De Amor (Love Story) 3:29
  • B5: Where There's A Heartache 3:10
Arranged By – Deodato*
Bass – Ron Carter, Russell George
Cello – George Ricci
Conductor – Deodato*
Drums – Airto Moreira, Dennis Seiwell*, Dom Um Romao, Joao Palma*
Electric Piano – Eumir Deodato
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flute – George Marge, Hubert Laws, Jerome Richardson, Romeo Penque
Guitar – Gene Bertoncini, Sam Brown (2), Sivouca*
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Percussion – Airto Moreira, Dennis Seiwell*, Dom Um Romao, Joao Palma*
Producer – Creed Taylor
Soloist [All Solos], Guitar – Bob Mann
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine
Viola – Harold Coletta
Violin – Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Katzman, Joe Malin, Julie Held, Paul Gershman

Recorded at Van Gelder Studios
January, February, March, April 1971


Amazon product ASIN B0000026IV




 
An interesting album, for sure. Although it seems like an awkward mismatch (Gilberto's softer vocals, Turrentine's out-front tenor), it works better than you might think. Turrentine provides some much-needed spice to keep this album interesting, without being "sqwauky" like Getz could be on some of his records. The original album running order is bookened by two Bacharach/David tunes, and I find the renditions to be rather lukewarm, and "Solo El Fin" is kind of a bland arrangement--she doesn't seem comfortable in a role of singing pop standards. Things get more interesting when Astrud is in her element on songs like "Brazilian Tapestry," "Zazueira," "Ponteio," and "Vera Cruz," which are all equally excellent. (Hearing Toots Thielemans' harmonica on "Ponteio" is a welcome treat.) Having Gilberto and Turrentine sit out for "To a Flame, is an interesting touch, with solos by the ever-present Hubert Laws (flute) and Bob Mann (guitar).

Deodato arranged the album, and the drums and percussion are handled by Airto Moreira, Dom Um Romao, Joao Palma, and Dennis Seiwell. Creed Taylor was no stranger to this music--remember, he was the producer behind all of those classic Verve albums that brought the bossa nova to the USA and took it up the charts. This is a more laid-back project from the post-bossa years. A good listen!
 
Agreed: pairing with Stan works (he was the leader on Blue Note's first major pop crossover LP in '68 entitled, you guessed it, The Look Of Love, and also cut a few bossas here and there). I have this one and enjoy it fine alongside her '60s Verve releases.
 
Having Gilberto and Turrentine sit out for "To a Flame, is an interesting touch, with solos by the ever-present Hubert Laws (flute) and Bob Mann (guitar).
Listening to this a few times on the recent vinyl reissue, I am trying to understand why they bothered adding this filler track. Surely they could have had Turrentine at least drop an 8-bar solo in it somewhere. It's probably the one dud on the album, the melody forgettable.
 
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