Jorge Benjor (aka Jorge Ben)
Brazilian Rhythm And Samba

Brazilian Music

Reactivus Amor Est (Turba Philosophorum)
(2004)

A leading figure in the Brazilian music revolution of the 1960s, Jorge Ben Jor (he added the Jor to his name some years ago) is part of the pantheon of great Brazilian musicians. Reactivus Amor Est (Turba Philosophorum)--which translates as "Love Is Reactive (A Philosophical Disorder)"--is the first album of new material from Jor in several years (import or domestic). Singing in his warm but slightly nasal voice, Jor touches on love, philosophy, and even soccer ("O Nome Do Rei É Pelé" and "Tupinambás"), but fans who don't understand Portuguese will have to content themselves with the rich sound of the music. Generally falling within the Brazilian pop genre known as MPB, Reactivus pulses with a modern samba heartbeat where electronic and acoustic rhythms build a galloping groove as syncopated splashes of melodic keyboards and funky guitar fill things out. This is a welcome return that will satiate longtime fans; it should also pique the interests of David Byrne and Caetano Veloso followers as well. -- Tad Hendrickson
 

Jorge Ben (Benjor) Albums, A - Z

África Brasil

...So I throw this thing in my CD player for the first time and instantly I say to myself "I have NO idea what this guy is saying--but Damn! is this funky." From the ridiculous, syncopated funk of "Ponta de la Africano (Ummbabarumba)" right into the bubbling bassline intro to track #2 "Hermes..." this things from Brazil straight cooks, man. I'm not exactly a stranger to Brazilian soul music. But if you are, this is a sweet starting point. Best way to sum it up is a cross-pollination of latin smoke, jb funk, island rhythms and African stylings. The funk flew outta of Brazil in the 70's so if you ain't hip and you're not sure, start with this Jorge Ben album and keep diggin...--an Amazon.com reviewer
 

Brazilian Hits & Funky Classics
(2001)

17 track compilation of quality material by Brazil's national treasure. The legendary composer of 'Mas Que Nada' Jorge Ben has sold more records in his four decade career than any other living Brazilian pop artist. This CD is a very special hand-picked selection of his 70's and early 80's material, considered to be some of his best work.
 

Gil & Jorge (Oxum / Xango)
with Gilberto Gil
(1975)

If you have no patience for subtle music, stay away from this CD. If you enjoy dissecting songs, basking the minute changes in rhythm and texture, this disc is hard to surpass. Ben & Gilberto are playful and innovative without losing focus. This is an exceptionally under produced and improvisational studio album. This is not for people with a short attention span who want canned and predictable pop, Brazilian or otherwise. If you want to find something different each time you listen to a CD, I highly recommend it. --an Amazon.com reviewer

Jorge Ben: Millenium
(compilation album)
(1999)

Jorge Ben is blessed with a superb voice -- pleasing to the ear, subtle, expressive and amazingly agile. The joy and exuberance of his performance on the 20 tracks of this album are infectious. Ben's rendition of "Pais Tropical" alone is worth the price of admission. --an Amazon.com reviewer

Puro Suinge (Pure Swing)
(2000)

Greatest hits compilation of Jorge Ben featuring 'Bebete Vaobora,' 'Quepena,' 'Chove Chuva,' 'se Segura Malandro,' 'O Telefone Tocou Novamente,' 'Que Nega E Essa,' 'Criola' and 'Taj Mahal.'
 

Samba Esquema Novo
(1963)

Japanese exclusive CD reissue of the 1963 album from the artist known as one of Brazil's greatest musical alchemists. 12 tracks. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Rejoice, children, at the renewed availability of this crucial and downright revolutionary album. Originally released in 1963, Jorge Ben's debut effort forecast just about everything cool to transpire in Brazilian music since. Jorge was the first to figure out the correlation between Brazilian samba and African-American r&b and blues. The original version of "Mas Que Nada" is here, as well as classics like "Balança Pema" and "Chove Chuva" which continue, 37 years later, to be covered to death in Brazil. As influential to his peers (Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil among others) as he is to younger generations, Jorge Ben is a primordial stylist on the order of Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan, although Dylan never swung this hard. Jorge's patented choppy guitar groove, often imitated but never equaled, is in full flow here. There is much more to Brazilian music than "The Girl From Ipanema," obviously, and this incredible album occasionally evokes images of said Girl going down to the crossroads and having a dalliance with Robert Johnson. Get this CD while you can, it's an extremely eye-opening experience! --an Amazon.com reviewer
 

A Tabua De Esmeralda
(1974)

This is one of the most beautiful Jorge Ben albums of all time. I can't believe it is almost 28 years old! I have yet to explain how some things in life can be just so perfect. Jorge Ben's acoustic guitar playing here is exceptional, at times incredibly energetic, at times soft and smooth in the old bossa nova style, and always bouncing along carefree and up-beat. Every song on this short record starts off with a riff or theme, which builds to a magnificent crescendo. And the record has the raw feel of a recording studio with little time or money for fancy sound-stuffing (but that just makes the record more sincere). Surprisingly absent are the horn sections notable on many earlier and later recordings. Maybe that is what makes this record so sweet, just pure Ben, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, (with the help of some back-up vocals, and a corny-sounding, 1974-era electronic keyboard which you barely notice underneath the guitar). One studio effect put to good use here, however, was the echo effect on the microphone, giving Ben's voice at times a "cosmic" sound, perfectly synchronized with the cosmic new age lyrics of songs like "Errare humanum est".

Lyrically, this record captures the essence of Ben the poet: sometimes new age cosmic, sometimes faithfully catholic, fascinated by medieval Europe (alchemy, astrology), fun-loving and just showing signs of a budding afro-brazilian "black pride" conscience ("Zumbi" and "Menina Mulher da pele Preta"). This is an absolute masterpiece. If you are at all attracted to the music of Jorge Ben and are looking for a good record to add to your collection, this should be one of the first you pick up! --an Amazon.com reviewer

Limited Availability

Jorge Ben & Maria Creuza
 

Semelhante
with Tim Maia
 

Jorge Benjor DVDs

Acoustico MTV (DVD)

Also See:
Brazilian Funk & Soul Music

Trama Records