Four albums from the second chapter in the career of Jorge Ben – packaged here in a single set, with a few bonus tracks too! First up is A Banda Do Ze Preinho – a record that's funky,
soulful, and totally wonderful – a wicked late 70s live set from Jorge Ben – and one of his few post-Philips albums that really holds onto the best energy from earlier years! The date's a live one, and the group grooves in a style that's got plenty of Africa Brasil touches – mixed with some other
soulful and funky modes too – always great for Jorge's wonderful vocals, especially on some of the earthier tracks. The production is nice and lean – with a core focus on Jorge's great voice, and the funky instrumentation of the band – which really lets the fantastic sound of the record come through strongly, without some of the heavier elements on some of Jorge's 80s records. The whole thing's great – and titles include "Troca Troca", "Bom Dia, Boa Tarde Boa Noite Amor", "A Banda Do Ze Pretinho", "Denize Rei", "Berenice", "Amante Amado", and "Era Uma Vez Treze". Salve Simpatia is late 70s funky
soul from Jorge Ben – a record that tightens up the sound a bit from his earlier years on Philips – but still keeps in all the core elements we love so much! The tracks bounce along with a tight samba
soul approach that's built very much on Jorge's earlier experiments – handled with a bit more modern
soul on the arrangements, but in a way that only makes the grooves come across more directly – in a style that's akin to some other Brazilian artists who were shifting more
soul towards
soul from other styles at the time – such as Marcos Valle and some of his contemporaries. Titles include "Salve Simpatia", "Ive Brussel", "Waldomiro Pena", "Adelita", "Occulatus Abis", and "Menina Crioula". Alo Alo Como Vai has Jorge working in a smoother vein than on his Philips sides, with the same sort of modern
soul approach that Marcos Valle and other older Brazilian singers were using at the time. But since Jorge's always been a
soulster from the start, the style works perfectly for his warm vocals and his keen talent for putting over a groove. Arrangements have kind of a brassy funky samba groove – and titles include "Ma Ma Ma Ma Mae", "Solitario Surfista", "Olha A Pipa", "Cae Cae Caetano", "Alo Alo, Como Vai?", and "A Cegohna Me Deixou Em Mardureira". Bem Vinda Amizade is an 80s groover with a sound that's a bit of a change from his 70s classics! The backings show Ben picking up some modern
soul elements from the US scene of the time – but these are also mixed with some rougher, rhythmic styles that are definitely Brazilian – which makes for a really compelling blend – quite similar to the samba and
soul mix of Jorge's 70s records, but tuned towards the ears of a different generation overall. Bits of boogie mix in to the groove nicely – and titles include "Katarina Katarina", "Para Que Digladiar", "Santa Clara Clareou", "O Diam Em Que O Sol Declarou O Seu Amor Pela Terra", "Lorraine", and "Luiz Wagner Guitarreiro". CD set features 3 bonus tracks – "Natal Brasileiro", "Waimea 55,000", and "Saci Perere".