More than any other style, samba is dear to Brazilians. As every great American singer always returns to the Great American Songbook as the years go by, the Brazilian who has arrived once again opts for the samba. And Gilberto Gil has arrived: the former political refugee, musical pioneer, Tropicálista and former Minister of Culture will be 72 years old when this album is released. Thanks to a
… sophisticated diet and sufficient sport, the singer looks like an early fifties. For Gilbertos Samba, Gil recorded twelve covers, including classics such as Desafinado (Joäo Gilberto) and Desde Que O Samba É Samba by his friend Caetano Veloso. It delivers a relaxed and non-committal album of this gray eminence of Brazilian music. (PdK)more