Pioneer Dorothy Ashby's exquisite harp atop a quality band deftly mixing soul, cool jazz, and touches of bossa is just perfect on this record. Beautiful from start to finish.
An effortless mix of bossa nova, samba, and acoustic swing, this gem of an album from Brazilian giant Jorge Ben Jor is simultaneously an invitation to chill out while soaking in a sunset and to get up and dance, even if you're physically incapable. From the pitch perfect opening, the playful soothing of "Charles Junior," to the more percussive "Apareceu Aparecida," and finally the assertive closing, the album lives up to its name, 'Brute Force'; obviously not through aggression, but through such a vulgar display of sheer talent and quality.
