Aos Vivos [Live]

Amazon.com
With his outlandish neo-Indian costumes and music that borrows from reggae, hip-hop, and Senegalese mbalax, Chico César serves notice that he's doing Brazilian popular music his way. He marries an elastic voice that croons and purrs one moment, yelps and yodels the next, to a dexterity on guitar that puts him in the league of tiptop instrumentalists. Originally released on a small independent label in Brazil, the live, mostly solo recording Aos Vivos launched César's career, putting him in demand as both a performer and the composer of hit songs like "A Primeira Vista," which Daniela Mercury transformed into the theme song for a smash TV soap opera, and the reggae-styled "Mama Africa." His unique take on the accordion-driven forro melodies of northeastern Brazil evoke Congolese and Angolan pop on "Tambores" and "Duvida Cruel" when he sets them against his bouncy, circular guitar lines. This welcome reissue easily trumps César's concurrently released studio recording on the Putumayo label, Chico César, proving that the charisma of a singer-with-guitar concert can brandish more firepower than an amplified ensemble. --Bob Tarte

Tracks:

Beradero
Mama Africa
A Primeira Vista
Tambores
Alma Nao Tem Cor
Duvida Cruel
A Prosa Impurpura Do Caico
Saharienne
Benazir
Mulher Eu Sei
Clandestino
Templo
Paraiba
Danca
Nato

Amazon.com

With his outlandish neo-Indian costumes and music that borrows from reggae, hip-hop, and Senegalese mbalax, Chico César serves notice that he's doing Brazilian popular music his way. He marries an elastic voice that croons and purrs one moment, yelps and yodels the next, to a dexterity on guitar that puts him in the league of tiptop instrumentalists. Originally released on a small independent label in Brazil, the live, mostly solo recording Aos Vivos launched César's career, putting him in demand as both a performer and the composer of hit songs like "A Primeira Vista," which Daniela Mercury transformed into the theme song for a smash TV soap opera, and the reggae-styled "Mama Africa." His unique take on the accordion-driven forro melodies of northeastern Brazil evoke Congolese and Angolan pop on "Tambores" and "Duvida Cruel" when he sets them against his bouncy, circular guitar lines. This welcome reissue easily trumps César's concurrently released studio recording on the Putumayo label, Chico César, proving that the charisma of a singer-with-guitar concert can brandish more firepower than an amplified ensemble. --Bob Tarte

Customer Reviews:

Brazilian acoustic alchemy.......2007-04-06

Imagine a musician having a live acoustic album hit the Top Ten in the Billboard charts,being announced as #1 on America's Top Forty by Ryan Seacrest. That's how Chico Cesar catapulted to fame in Brazil. His intimate live acoustic concert album brought him out of obscurity into Brazil's popular consciousness.

Chico Cesar's "Aos Vivos" offers the live acoustic versions of "Mama Africa" and "A Primeira Vista." It's not a wild rock concert,instead,it's Brazilian folk music,played on a few acoustic guitars (Chico collaborates with the popular guitarist Lenine on a few songs) "Tambores" is as percussive as the tambourines Chico sings about. "A Prosa Impurpura do Caico" sounds Hawaiian,as if it were played on ukeleles. "Saharienne" evokes Spanish flamenco. The audience sings along with "Mulher eu sei." "Templo" is quiet and reverential.

This is perfect for adding to a Brazilian collection,and a great introduction to Brazilian folk music!

Just like the live concert.......2004-04-07

I've seen Chico Cesar live in a smallish venue here in Europe and the set he did was IDENTICAL to this album. Same songs, same order.

This is quite a beautiful uplifting record, Chico Cesar runs through a whole gamut of styles, Reggae, African, Modern Pop aided only by his nylon string guitar. They're all originals and all rather catchy, even if you don't speak portuguese.

It really is a bit of a revelation that one can do so much with such a simple instrument!

My only complaint is that perhaps the record is a TAD too long (maybe one song too long) but otherwise it's a near perfect concert album.

Aos Vivos
Average customer rating:

brilliant live album

In the Beginning...

classic Brazilian Beauty

A great record live

Aos Vivos
Chico Cesar
Manufacturer: Velas
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004TAKL
Release Date: 1998-10-19

Album Details

Recorded Live, this is the First Record of this Artist, it also features Lenine in Acoustic Guitar, and Lany Gordin in Electric Guitar as Special Guests.

Customer Reviews:

brilliant live album.......2000-08-30

I was lucky enough to see Chico Cesar in a small club setting a couple of years ago. He sang and accompanied himself on acoustic guitar and a second guitarist joined him for the last few songs. This album is a faithful reproduction of his live show, down to the track order.

This is a terrific album, straddling an interesting middle ground between African music and Reggae, with a few exquisitely melodic, romantic pop songs in between. Pretty much what you'd expect from one of Brazil's premier songwriters.

There are very lively rhythms, passionate delivery and a certain charming innocence in the songs, all of which contribute to making this album an intimate, very sincere little jewel of a record. One risks running out of superlatives in describing it.

In the Beginning..........2000-08-30

This is the first Chico César album, and a great introduction to an amazing songwriter. This was recorded live in São Paulo, just Chico and his guitar, with special guests Lenine and Lanny Gordin sitting in on a few numbers. As always, all the songs are top-notch, although on this album I prefer the ballads: "À Primeira Vista", "A Prosa Impúrpura do Caicó", "Templo" (my favorite) and "Mulher Eu Sei". Some of these songs were re-recorded with a full band for his sophomore effort , "Cuscuz Clã", and most of them are better with a band, just for the fact that it has a rhythm section for more groove. Also notable is the inclusion of "Alma Não Tem Cor" by André Abujamra--the mastermind behind Karnak (the song is on Karnak's CD as well). This marks the great beginning of a great songwriter/singer/guitarist's career.

classic Brazilian Beauty.......1999-07-22

In his live album, "Aos Vivos," Brazilian singer-songwriter Chico Cesar beautifully manifests every single aspect of the beauty of Brazilian folk and jazz. His voice is rich with color and emotion, and his songs are all clever and wonderfully writen.

A great record live.......1999-04-16

Very lively, this is the less that one can say about this title. The beautiful voice of Chico Cesar still pushes our souls to pleasure and satisfaction. A very nice first song : "Mama Africa"

Average customer rating:

Aos Vivos
Chico César
Manufacturer: Velas Brazil
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Brazil | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000AKNM5
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Tracks:

Berad
Mama Africa
A Primeira Vista
Tambores
Alma NTem Cor
D Cruel
Prosa Impa Do Caic
Saharienne
Benazir
Mulher Eu Sei
Clandestino
Templo
Para
Dan
Nato

Album Details

Recorded Live, this is the First Record of this Artist, it also features Lenine in Acoustic Guitar, and Lany Gordin in Electric Guitar as Special Guests.