Gilberto Gil: Original Album Series

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Toots Thielemans
Bill Evans
Elliott Zigmund (d)
Marc Johnson (b)
Eddie Gomez (b)
Larry Schneider (ts, ss, f – three tracks)
Joe LaBarbera (d)

Label:

Rhino/Warner

April/2016

Catalogue Number:

0081227947712 5CD

RecordDate:

23 Aug 1977-26 Nov 1979

Gilberto Gil is a Brazilian – nay, a world – icon for a reason, and if ever one needed the reason why, it is all here. Complete in one tidy box set are five of the former Culture Minister's albums with original sleeve replicas; albums that taken together give a taste of Gil's illustrious, 50-plus album career. Gil had established his bossa nova credentials and returned to Bahia from exile in London by the time he released 1975's Refazenda; his interest in the Afro-Brazilian afoxé tradition is similarly evident on Refavela. Travels around Africa, and a collaboration with Jimmy Cliff on a cover of ‘No Woman No Cry’ – a 1980 hit that introduced reggae to Brazil – make their mark on Realce. 1984's Raca Humana sees the tropicalia pioneer introducing rock to his Afro-centric musings; the pick of the five, perhaps, is 2002's Marley-friendly Kaya N'Gan Daya, with the sing-a-long samba-fied likes of ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘Could You Be Loved’. There's much more to Gil than this – but there is also a helluva lot here.

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