Gilberto Gil

Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben recorded this album in 1975 with little preparation. The two sat down, started playing, got lost in the rhythm, and added bits of folk songs where they saw fit. With two guitars and slight percussion, they sound like two of the coolest guys on the planet (and look at that cover!).

Always ready to go further out on a beat than the other samba/bossa geniuses, they walked into a studio in 1975 and spread nine songs over 78 minutes. With percussion up front and snatches of English on the order of "Blue, blue sky/Blue, blue sea" reinforcing all the repetitions and nonsense syllables, the renowned lyricists were playing a rhythm game, and they won. They don't just vamp till ready--they vamp to live, vamp for the sheer open-ended joy of it. (Grade - A-)