365 – New Music Daily

We’re back! Nonchalant style for a bit. Just want a place to share some tunes again. While I sit in my lovely 9-5, I might as well do this while I can. Also I like the picture grid thing yeah super cool.

Today’s pick is an extension of a recent kick that was passed along to me by my uncle in a 3am text that has become ever-frequent from him. I wonder if he’ll ever read this and if he’d like me to be sharing that – if so, hey Dan. I could say more. Maybe I shouldn’t say that either!

Jorge Ben – samba, brazillian motha-uckin legend. Too many motha uckas uckin with his ish, including my main man Masayoshi Takanaka who played one of his most famous songs Taj Mahal in that infamous surfboard guitar video. Arguably the coolest video of all time. Anything I can say about this album would be totally insufficient to describe both his incredible guitar playing, soulful voice, and largely lyrics about loving life, the beauty of it all. I don’t need to get too woo-woo there. You all know it’s all about the beauty, baby. Heyo. Beautiful video of him playing below!

You know I love my facts though, so some Jorge Ben Facts:

1. He played for Flamengo before going on to be a revolutionary Brazillian musician (this is no small feat for my non-soccer fan readers).
2. He was Jorge Ben for a long time, before going to Jorge Ben Jor, because people kept giving his song royalties to George Benson (gimme the night, more like gimme the rights! my best work)
3. Mas que Nada (the first song below, and his largest) was popularized just 2 years later by a different Brazillian jazz musician, Sergio Mendes – and has been recorded/covered by over 200 artists (according to this great blog on Jorge Ben).

Anyways, get down, boogie and listen to some beautiful samba fusion!

Favorite songs: Domingas, Cade Tereza, Pais Tropical, Take It Easy My Brother Charles, Bebete VAobora, Que Pena (Ela Ja Nao Gosta Mais de Mim)