Venue
ONE COMMON THREAD WEAVES THROUGHOUT THE STAGGERINGLY DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF MUSIC THAT SERGIO MENDES HAS CREATED OVER HIS REMARKABLE SIX-DECADE CAREER: THE SPIRIT OF JOY.
FROM HIS PIONEERING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF BOSSA NOVA ALONGSIDE THE LIKES OF ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, THROUGH THE ERA-DEFINING LATIN-POP SOUND OF HIS ICONIC GROUP BRASIL '66; HIS SCINTILLATING COLLABORATIONS WITH JAZZ LEGENDS LIKE CANNONBALL ADDERELEY AND HERBIE MANN TO HIS CHART-TOPPING ADULT CONTEMPORARY SMASH "NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO;" ON THROUGH HIS 21ST-CENTURY REINVENTION WITH THE BLACK-EYED PEAS AND JOHN LEGEND OR HIS OSCAR-NOMINATED THEME SONG FROM THE ANIMATED HIT RIO: AN INFECTIOUS SPIRIT OF JOY PERVADES EVERYTHING MENDES HAS USHERED INTO THE EARS OF LISTENERS.
THE BRAZILIAN LEGEND'S 2020 ALBUM IS NO EXCEPTION. ON IN THE KEY OF JOY, MENDES LOOKS BACK THE ONLY WAY HE KNOWS HOW - BY ONCE AGAIN MOVING FORWARD. RELEASED TO COINCIDE WITH A SPECTACULAR NEW DOCUMENTARY ON HIS LIFE BY ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER JOHN SCHEINFELD (CHASING TRANE, WHO IS HARRY NILSSON?), THE ALBUM IN THE KEY OF JOY MELDS THE CLASSIC BRAZILIAN, JAZZ AND POP SOUNDS THAT HAVE LONG CHARACTERIZED MENDES' MUSIC WITH STUNNINGLY CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONS THAT MAKE THE ALBUM SOUND AT ONCE UTTERLY TIMELESS AND WHOLLY OF THE MOMENT.
THE DOCUMENTARY, SERGIO MENDES: IN THE KEY OF JOY IS ENJOYING WORLDWIDE RELEASE IN 2021, AFTER ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN 2020. HERE'S A TIMELINE OF THE MILESTONES IN SERGIO'S LIFE AND DISCOGRAPHY, WHICH ARE WONDERFUL "COMPANION" REFERENCES TO THE DOCUMENTARY AND CHRONICLE AN AMAZING LIFE AND CAREER.
Sergio Mendes never disappoints. I've seen the group twice. I'll see them again, Lord willing. Their music is timeless and beautiful. Their stage performance is fascinating. The only thing missing were the Samba dancers... which is an added attraction.
Absolutely wonderful. High energy great band and singers and Sergio leading it all. He seemed to be happier to play than we were to listen, and we were ecstatic. My wife loved it and it was one her first exposures to Bossa Nova and Brazilian music. We would definitely see him again.
Great show and enjoyed our seats. what more can I say but a good time was had by all and people were swaying/dancing in the rows.
While the show was less like than 90 minutes, the show could not have been better!!! They played all the best of their older songs, the band was fantastic, and the audience was very enthusiastic! I wish they would perform more often in the Chicago area.
I would have preferred more Brazil 66 and less Bossa Nova. The horn sounds from Brazil 66 were missing and the female voices fell short of Lani Hall.
I’ve been attending Sergio Mendes’ performances since the beginning - ‘66, ‘77, 88, and so on, right up until today. So I’m a fan, right? But this was special. Here’s this 82-year-old guy with a spring in his step, a gleam in his eye, and magic in his hands as he played those chords and rhythms on the keyboard. He said this was his “best band ever.” I don’t know about that, but they must be right up there - they were fabulous. And the singers, Katie Hampton and Gracina, were note perfect. Truly one of the best, most enjoyable concerts ever. What a refreshing change from all computerized kiddie-pop that’s spewed out these days.
Excellent show. Sergio and crew dazzled us with the Bosa Nova music.
It was great concert, but too short. Just one hour!!
My wife, daughter, friend, and his Brazilian wife all sat up front in Row B; and we just LOVED the show!!!! A brilliant composer, musician and performer!!! Everything was just PERFECT!!!!
What a trip down memory lane! Sergio still has it after all these years!! Great performances by all in his ensemble.
