Sergio Mendes

The tremendously successful Brasil '66 albums do not paint a complete picture of pianist-composer Sergio Mendes. Before the first A&M album presented by Herb Alpert, there were albums on Atlantic, Capitol, and certainly other labels in Brasil. During and after Brasil '66 (and similar groups named for subsequent years), there were various solo albums, collaborations, and some excellent debut albums produced by Sergio Mendes. The Brasil '66 albums are the career highlight, however.

Brasil '66 created some of the most enduringly hip, pop music of the 1960s. Improbable elements included foreign language (some songs), jazz, group vocals, and piano. The first album in this style features acclaimed singer Wanda de Sah with the Sergio Mendes Trio, guitarist Rosinha de Valença, and Bud Shank. The first three Brasil '66 albums amplified all the strengths of Brasil '65, hitting upon an ideal combination of talent, strong and peppier material, and Herb Alpert's production sense.

Fortunately it was Jorge Ben's "Mais Que Nada" that became their smash hit. The group also covered Joao Donato's "The Frog" as well as compositions by other heavyweights such as Joao Gilberto. Early covers of such mod standards as "Going Out of My Head" and "Spanish Flea" gave way to pleasant but gratuitous covers of numerous Beatles tunes. Sergio Mendes compositions and arrangements became fewer as organist Dave Grusin increasingly took over those duties. Most of their later albums are dismissable, except Stillness for its fantastic, funky version of "For What It's Worth" and "Celebration of the Sunrise."