351 of 1001 Albums: Jorge Ben's Africa/Brasil

Jorge Ben has created one of the most unique Brazilian albums with his 1976 release, Africa Brasil. It's one of those albums that really do get funner as it goes. You'll hear a lot of recognizable genres mixed in as well. You hear a bit of American, and African mixed in with the native sounds to his Brazilian country.  There are a lot of fun sounds though on the album especially as it progresses to the last few songs and seems to really find it's riff.

Along with all the mixes of different cultures Jorge Ben also seems to even mixed a little bit of funk into the whole sound from American that comes through quite heavily at times like in songs, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado. Along with that the song does choose a good song to begin with, 'Ponta de Lança Africano". After that the album does get a little bit slow, but it's find it's way back to being interesting over a little midway through it.


Overall, the sound of this album can be described as a party as far as sound. It's like Ben wanted to blend many different cultures and then make it sound like all those sounds were having a party. Jorge Ben also does have a strong voice that remains quite prominent in his music. At times it sounds a little scratchy, and others very clear. It just depends on the vibe he is striving for. 

I'm not one who would probably check out something of this style upon just looking around, but it is a welcome change. It makes you want to move whether you admit it or not. "Taj Mahal" is probably one of the best songs on the album because it starts off with a beat that gets you up, and keeps it steady throughout it. "A História de Jorge" is another song that keeps up the great pace those types of songs set. 

Jorge Ben has done something quite special with this album, and had a little bit of controversy that later swirled it, but he still ends up even making good of that. Jorge Ben shows the passion he has for his own culture, and his attempt to branch it out, and share it with others, and even mix it with those a bit. There are lots of great instruments used mixed with his voice that give it a certain atmosphere that just seems rarer to find in music.

Rating 6 of 10.
Recommend Listen: "A História de Jorge"