Music Review

03 December 2008 06:33 BST

Sergio Mendes: Encanto

Concord Records, out June 23rd.

In a nutshell...

Smooth pop-tinged Brazilian bossa nova.

What's it all about?

After a career spanning more than 35 albums, Brazilian pianist Sergio Mendes follows up 2006's Timeless with Encanto, 12 interpretations and original compositions. Like its predecessor, it contains a raft of guest stars, and although Mendes has toned down this aspect somewhat, a number of high profile names remain on board including Fergie and Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

Who’s it by?

Sergio Santos Mendes made his recording debut in 1961 and went on to find fame with his Brasil '66 ensemble whose most notable successes included versions of Scarborough Fair and the Beatles' Fool On The Hill. Mendes continued to release music throughout the 70s but did not repeat the mainstream success enjoyed by Brasil '66 until the release of his self-titled comeback album in 1983. Timeless, his first album in more than ten years attempted to introduce his funk tinged bossa nova sound to a new generation of listeners with guest spots from Justin Timberlake, John Legend and Jurassic 5 among others.

As an example...

"Come on everybody won't you feel the joy/Music is the potion, rockin' from coast to coastin'."- Funky Bahia

"We'll go rendezvous in Paris stamp until we get our fill, listen to Sergio Mendes on the stages of Brazil." - The Look Of Love

Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys

It wouldn't be the first, Mendes has already taken home a gong for best world music album thanks to his 1992 release Brasileiro and the combination of an established and well regarded artist mixed with newer names has often been a winner. Nevertheless Timeless was overlooked, so a repeat of the formula may not garner him further favour.

What the others say

"Encanto's mix of hip-hop, tropical grooves, and classic remakes should keep Mendes' fans, old and new, happy all summer." - Washington City Post

"Not bad."- Independent

So is it any good?

Opening with an appallingly-misguided rerun of Brasil '66’s version of The Look Of Love, things are not promising, with what little merit possessed by a bossa nova interpretation of a Bacharach number savaged by Will.i.am's pedestrian rapping and Fergie's lacklustre vocals.

Things do get better however, Odo-Ya ups the ante with a fine guest turn by Carlinhos Brown and hip hop beats tastefully complimented by Mendes' keyboard flourishes. Natalie Cole takes over vocal duties for a run through of Somewhere In The Hills, establishing a more traditional sound further showcased on the laid back Y Vamos Ya (... Let's Go). Things are finished off nicely with the funky Acode before the unfortunate return of Will.i.am for the closing Agua De Beber.
Timeless' who's who of non-threatening hip-hop and R 'n' B stars felt a little laboured at times, but Encanto stays more faithful to Mendes's earlier work and is all the better for it. The musicianship is of a universally high standard and Mendes' Rhodes and piano work, light summery arrangements and bossa nova grooves are well executed.

Generally excellent performances from the interesting selection of guest artists help to update an established sound and elevate it above and beyond the sum of its constituent parts. Nonetheless, things are at risk of floundering into insubstantial lounge jazz territory on occasion and one cannot help but wish for a little more spark and genuine sense of fun to proceedings, surely a prerequisite for such a title.

An interesting take on the genre then, albeit one somewhat lacking in any real energy.

6/10

John Beck