Jorge Ben Albums (27)
What The Critics Say
The combination of Jorge Ben and Trio Mocotó had already produced great things when Força Bruta first appeared in 1970. Ben's self-titled album of the year before had reeled off a succession of Brazilian hits, including "País Tropical" and "Cadê Teresa," and made the four musicians very busy as a result. Força Bruta was a slightly different album, a slice of mellow samba soul that may perhaps have been the result of such a hectic schedule during 1969. One of the hidden gems in Jorge Ben's discography, it's a wonderful album because it kept everyone's plentiful musical skills intact while simply sailing along on a wonderful acoustic groove that may have varied little but was all the better for its agreeable evenness. The songs may have been more difficult to distinguish -- virtually every one began with acoustic guitar, similar instrumentation, and Ben's caressing vocals over the top -- but it made the record one of the best in Ben's hearty career. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Pure Brazil II - Electric Samba Groove'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 20
Label Universal
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Acústico MTV'
Release Date 12/14/2004
Tracks 20
Label Universal International
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Reactivus Amor Est (Turba Philosophorum)'
Release Date 12/7/2004
Tracks 16
Label Universal International
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Jorge Ben Jor is the master of samba-funk, and he sticks to what he knows best on this release. But there can still be a lot of variety within that genre as he more than capably shows here. The opener, "Mexe Mexe," for instance, is simply irresistible with its catchy, uplifting chorus (even if it does make you think of "Do the Hustle"), while "O Rei e Rosa Cruz" could almost have come out of the vintage Talking Heads songbook (indeed at times Jor sounds uncannily like David Byrne). "Sao e Slavos" is distinguished by a keyboard lines that meanders through the verses, and "Ze Blueman" mixes neo-techno and heavy brass. But there's a bit of everything here, from the updated- '50s ballad style on "Historia do Homem" to the slow burn of "Tupinambas." "Maria Helena" is a great workout, strong on the percussion, while the curious title track, packed with lyrics in its one-minute-and-twelve seconds, makes for an odd ending. If you like you funk leavened with air, this is definitely the place to come. You might not understand a word he sings (in Portuguese), but when the music is this eloquent, who cares? ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
'Acústico MTV, Vol. 2'
Release Date 7/23/2002
Tracks 10
Label Universal International
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This is the second volume of two acoustic live CDs recorded by Jorge Ben for MTV. Just as on the first part of the same live show, Ben is in form, presenting some of his best and most well-known compositions. The CD starts with the classic "Mas, Que Nada," and three other lovely songs from the same early period of Ben's career follow, namely "Por Causa de Você, Menina," "Chove, Chuva," and "Que Maravilha." "Filho Maravilha," with lyrics about a soccer player, and "Os Alquimistas Estão Chegando os Alquimistas," about alchemists, are typical examples of Ben's unique and refreshingly unpretentious brand of lyrics. "País Tropical" is an enthusiastic upbeat homage to Brazil, and the last track, "Taj Mahal," became famous all over the world when Rod Stewart copied the refrain for his hit "D'Ya Think I'm Sexy" and a lawsuit ensued. Ben brings a very luxurious orchestra and string section to accompany him on-stage here, which creates a very lush and sleek sound for the music. Of course, most of the time this sounds very different compared to the original versions, which in most cases were recorded with a much funkier and sparser sound in the '60s and '70s. The musicians are all excellent, but the music lacks much of the nerve and artistic energy of Ben's old recordings. Yet it is very nice to hear these old hits in these new arrangements, and there is no doubt that Ben is in better form here than he has been in a very long time. ~ Philip Jandovský, All Music Guide
