An all-star effort from Sergio Mendes -- one that follows nicely on the comeback energy of his previous Timeless set! Like that one, this album has Mendes dipping heavily into contemporary soul modes -- picking up a bit of R&B, bits of hip hop, and bits of a few other styles -- then folding them back into music from his Brazilian roots! The blend is almost a 21st Century update of the mix of soul and bossa that Sergio forged in the 70s after his initial Brasil 66 work on these shorts -- and the balance struck here is surprisingly strong -- possibly even better than the sound of Timeless. Guests include Will I Am, Siedah Garrett, Ledisi, Carlinhos Brown, Vanessa Da Mata, Gracinha Leporace, Natalie Cole, and Lani Hall -- and titles include "Catavento", "Morning In Rio", "The Look Of Love", "Dreamer", "Lugar Comum", "Odo-Ya", "Waters Of March", and "Funky Bahia".
With Encanto, his follow-up to the highly acclaimed Timeless, the man who has become virtually synonymous with Brazilian music takes us even deeper into Brazil with all the basic tracks recorded in Rio and Bahia featuring an incredible Brazilian percussion section.
Sergio also gives Encanto a more global focus, bringing in international guest stars such as Latin superstar Juanes from Colombia, multi-talented Carlinhos Brown and Vanessa da Mata from Brazil, the foremost Japanese pop group, Dreams Come True, Belgium’s Zap Mama and Italian rapper Jovanotti, as well as American stars like Fergie, Natalie Cole, Herb Alpert and his wife, original Brasil '66 singer, Lani Hall.
