10072014 - João Gilberto "João Voz E Violão"

This is perfect listening in the summer heat. Soft and soothing samba tunes that deliver exactly what it says on the tin: a warm voice and a gentle acoustic guitar, both courtesy of Gilberto himself. This is as low key and unpretentious as one would imagine, and all the better for it. This album was released in 2000, and although his voice has obviously aged since his immortal albums with Stan Getz, it has done so gracefully. His recording of "Desafinado" on this album, which is also on the now 50 years old "Getz/Gilberto" album, showcases a singer who, although close to 70 at the time, never sounds old. Caetano Veloso's spartan production highlights this and is another proof of why these recordings never needed a grand orchestra or layers upon layers of multitracked instruments of any kind. Lovely!