Now Sound — CDs  

One of Sergio Mendes' most dreamy albums – quite different than both his vocal work with Brasil 66, and his smaller combo sides from Brazil! There's still a strong bossa component to the record – but the setting has Sergio's piano lines laid out over larger arrangements with a good jazz component – soloing beautifully with a grace and charm he sometimes didn't have on other projects! Arrangements are by some hip American talents – Clare Fischer, Bob Florence, and Richard Hazard – and the set's filled with bright horns, lush banks of strings, and cascading rhythms – all produced with exceptional sound, so that Sergio's piano goes gliding over the top in a manner that's similar to some of the Luis Eca albums in a similar format. Tracks include "Carnaval", "Boranda", "Nana", and "Bonita".

A very cool group that's as groovy as their name! The Jumping Jacques were a 60s French vocal group who took elements of other French groups – like The Swingle Singers or Les Double Six – and worked in a mode that was very mod, and very 60s! The tunes on the set sparkle with inventive vocal pyrotechnics – dipping bass parts, floating soprano lines, skipping scatting tenor and alto bits – all coming together in a lovely blend of male and female vocals, dancing lightly with all the charm of Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66. Most tracks are non-verbal – in that the vocals are working in more of a scatting instrumental mode, jazzily grooving on a set of original tunes by leader Jacques Hendrix. Very cool, and very much in the mode of mid 60s Michel Legrand soundtracks, The Gimmicks, and other bits of European grooviness! Titles include "Let Them Eat Cake", "Gossip & Chatter", "Someday We'll Know", "Somehow I Feel I Must Be Dreaming", "Offbeat Fugue", and "Love Me Now".