The effect can be largely attributed to singer Maria Toledo, whose strangely disembodied voice haunts the songs. She is rarely the focus, floating in and out of the background like a presiding ghost. Even in a song she clearly dominates, such as 'Insensatez', a phantosmagoric quality makes her vanish into the precious sadness of this song which, with Jobim's understated, unbearably poignant piano, is surely the most beautiful ever written.

48 of 50 found the following review helpful:


One of the Greatest Albums Ever Created ie. a masterpiece  Aug 28, 2000
Luiz Bonfa's playing is as beautiful as Stan Getz's playing is as good as Maria Toledo's singing. After several years I still can't get over how good these three are, and how beautiful each arrangement is - Antonio Carlos Jobim lent a hand with the arrangements and also appears on several tracks playing the piano in his distinct and most singinglike way. There are upbeat sambas as well as some incredibly moving slower tracks. Their version of "Insensatez" is, without doubt, the most beautiful ever recorded.

It's such a treat to hear such wonderful music!

Both Stan Getz and Luiz Bonfa as masterful "singers" of their instruments. Everything they play on this album is singable; and I give you my personal guarantee that they will give you goose bumps, make your eyes water, spine tingle. Maria Toledo's voice is one of a kind - powerful, with a dark but sensitive tone.

Writing these things now as I ponder the effect "Jazz Samba Encore" has had on me, I realise that I am in love with the album. Everything I could and would say about it will be written from the perspective of one dizzy and confused by his emotions. It is impossible for me to retain a cool, unaffected tone in my writing because of my feelings for the album. As a result, I risk hyperbole and sickly attempts to poeticize upon what really speaks for itself - sample the music, keeping in mind that the initial beauty that strikes you will continue as you come to know the album better and the subtleties reveal themselves. Everyone who hears this album loves this album.

24 of 25 found the following review helpful:


Lots of suinge!  May 12, 2002 By jfpessoa "jfpessoa"
Though I am very fond of the previous album, Jazz Samba, over time this one has edged it out. The first venture sometimes seems like disconnected pieces assembled into an album, whereas this Jazz Samba Encore has a sustained swing and drive that give it an overall all sense of direction and unity that Jazz Samba now lacks for me.

Also there is, in my estimation, more artistic balance on this album - Bonfa's playing and Toledo's singing are right there at Getz's level all the time, every time.

This is a superb effort, there isn't a slice of turkey on the entire album. Pure pleasure.

17 of 19 found the following review helpful:


A MUST have Master Piece  Aug 20, 2002 By Serp Zi "serpzi"
This album should get a rating of 6 in the scale of 5. Is incredible how a guitar, a saxophone can make exquisite harmony with the addition of just percussion and a bass. Master Bossa Nova masters Luiz Bonfa and Stan Getz leave a great legacy no other instrumental album in the history of Bossa Nova has done.

If you are a Bossa Nova, Jazz or guitar afficionado, this is a must have album. Luiz Bonfa, the one and only player that "makes a guitar sound like and orchetra by itself", proves to the world that he is indeed has earned the respect of his peers as the "one and only". I guarantee you, once you listen to this album, you will be looking for Luiz Bonfa music all over. I did.

And for Stan Getz, can someone else make a sax create moods of happiness, melancoly, sadness etc...

The combo of Getz and Bonfa is an incredible harmony of one master speaking to the other via their instruments.

I have heard nearly all Bossa Nova music and others alike. I highly recommend this album. Once you listen to it, you will be listening to it over and over. The guitar improvisation will make you think, "how in the world can someone play like this". And you will then be writing the next review like me in here.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:


Another strong bossa nova release from Getz  Jan 07, 2007 By Ben
Jazz Samba Encore was the third album in a series of four releases of bossa nova music on the Verve label, all of them featuring Stan Getz playing the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfa. This album is mainly a collaboration between Getz and Bonfa, and although the latter composer dominates proceedings, three of Jobim's songs are included, as well as his accompaniment on both guitar and piano on some of the tracks.

Not only is Bonfa a great songwriter, he is also an accomplished guitarist as he demonstrates on so many of the tracks here. His playing has a crisp and at times urgent feel on the faster numbers. Surprisingly, his most famous composition, Manha De Carnival was not included on the album. Also, Jobim's song Corcovado was present on the original LP as an instrumental, but is omitted from the CD. Instead we get a double take of Ebony Samba, one of the highlights of the album, so all is not lost.

As for the music, as one would expect it is just wonderful. It is rather different in feel and presentation to its purely instrumental predecessor, Jazz Samba, with JSE generally having a lighter and more joyous tone overall, but no less captivating. There is also the presence of Brazilian vocalist Maria Toledo. She tends to use her voice more as an instrument rather than the singing of lyrics. And with a slight echo added this gives an unusual haunting quality to some of these tracks. However, she does get to sing at least a full verse on one or 2 tracks, and one such example is Insensatez, one of the few melancholic songs included. The way this is performed is simply sublime, and worth the money of the CD alone. The great Stan Getz, of course is in excellent form as he was on Jazz Samba, and his sense of timing and use of phrasing is as immaculate as ever.

Although there were no huge hits from this album, unlike the case with Jazz Samba (Desifinado) and Getz/Gilberto (Girl From Ipenema), that does not render Jazz Samba Encore any less substantial as a musical project. If you liked the other two albums mentioned, you should certainly enjoy this one.

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