Track Listing

1. Mas Que Nada (Featuring The Black Eyed Peas)
2. That Heat (Featuring Erykah Badu & Will.I.Am Of The Black Eyed Peas)
3. Berimbau/Consolacao (Featuring Stevie Wonder & Gracinha Leporace)
4. The Frog (Featuring Q-Tip)
5. Let Me (Featuring Jill Scott & Will.I.Am Of The Black Eyed Peas)
6. Bananeira (Banana Tree) (Featuring Mr. Vegas)
7. Surfboard (Featuring Will.I.Am Of The Black Eyed Peas)
8. Please Baby Don't (Featuring John Legend)
9. Samba Da Bencao (Samba Of The Blessing) (Featuring Marcelo D2)
10. Timeless (Featuring India.Arie)
11. Loose (Featuring Justin Timberlake, Pharoahe Monch & Will.I.Am Of The Black Eyed Peas)
12. Fo'-Hop (Por Tras De Bras De Pina) (Featuring Guinga & Marcelo D2)
13. Lamento (No Morro) (Featuring Maogani Quartet)
14. E Menina (Hey Girl)
15. Yes, Yes, Y' All (Featuring Black Thought Of The Roots, Chali 2na Of Jurassic 5, Debi Nova & Will.I.Am Of The Black Eyed Peas)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19034 in Music
• Released on: 2006-04-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 62 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
As you might expect, Timeless isn’t your parents’ Sergio Mendes. Take "Mais Que Nada," the opener from that topselling staple of post-60s, post-bossa, near-kitsch Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66: Greatest Hits. Here it’s no simple, slinky groove. The Black-Eyed Peas are along for the bumpin’ ride. What it amounts to is the same intercultural collision that happened when bossa nova met jazz and pop via Stan Getz’s tenor sax, except here the meeting is between the lounge and, presumably, the street. John Legend and India.Arie keep the session on a downtempo, neo Brazilian vibe on "Please Baby Don’t" and the title track (respectively). Once those are tunes end, though, it’s back to the bump and the beats and the irresistible party vibe of the set. Don’t fret, though, as the Peas keep things light enough to trigger innocent headbobs and chilled out dance steps. Just as you might hear Timeless and agree that it ain’t your parents’ Sergio, your parents can also hear will.i.am’s and the Peas’s pivotal roles and say that it’s not their kids’ Black-Eyed Peas, either --Andrew Bartlett

CD Description
Legendary Brazilian jazzman gets a career rehabilitation album courtesy of Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. Working with the hip-hop producer and a succession of hot young stars from the fields of rap, RnB and neo-soul - including Jill Scott, John Legend, Justin Timberlake and India.Arie - he has re-recorded many of his best-known tunes, giving them a contemporary twist and making them accessible to a younger audience who may well not be familiar with his oeuvre.

Customer Reviews

Sergio Mendes with a Big Twist
Well, when I was in my teens, people used to laugh that I liked Sergio Mendes. Well m'dears look at this album and tell me it isn't the coolest?!

Whether you are a Sergio Mendes fan especially the earlier stuff, Brasil 66, Equinox, etc or a Black Eyed Peas fan, or indeed R&B then there's something on this album to please everyone. I'd say for such a challenging album there are only a couple of songs that are just to heavy hip hop for me. The rest is a joy to listen to, if you are open minded about remixes and love to see what Sergio has been up to. Mas Que Nada, the first track is inspirational and the more I listen to it, the better it gets. I feel with this album it's going to grow on me and be the summer listen of 06.

This album is cool, classy and well mixed.

A welcome return
Sergio Mendes is, arguably, the biggest musical export to have come from Brazil. His brand of jazzy bossa nova was a regular feature on 1960s radio stations, and even now he remains hugely popular, with many recognising his signature tune "Mas Que Nada" from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

Timeless is his first album of original material in eight years, and it follows the model set by Carlos Santana's recent albums: have a talented but ageing musician as the one constant, and invite an array of well-known, younger stars to freshen up the sound. Thus, we see the likes of Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas all making contributions. Indeed, the influence of the BEP is very strong, with group member (and self-confessed Mendes aficionado) Will.I.Am at the producing helm.

Essentially, Timeless is a cross between Mendes' soft, salsa-tinged melodies and modern day R'n'B. This may seem an odd combination, but actually the blend between old and new works beautifully, as shown by the new version of "Mas Que Nada". Other highlights include the John Legend-led "Please Baby Don't", Stevie Wonder's wonderful harmonica playing on "Berimbau/Consolacao" and the smooth "Loose Ends".

In all, a very good album that should attract new fans for Sergio Mendes.

What's good for Santana is also good for Sergio
Borrowing a page from the Santana recipe book, Sergio Mendes updates his sound by taking a generous sprinkling of popular artistes, and blending them in to spice up this album. Not that the Brazilian samba and bossa nova beats aren't spicy on their own, but thanks to the hot hip hop, soul, Latin, Caribbean and pop guest artistes, this album sizzles, bringing a taste of Sergio to a new generation.

Just glance down the track listing and you'll see will.i.am (lots of him) and The Black Eyed Peas, neo-soul goddess Erykah Badu, legendary Stevie Wonder, red hot John Legend, and pop boy band graduate Justin Timberlake, as well as India.arie, Q-Tip, Mr. Vegas and more.

Tracks to look for are the first single "Mas Que Nada" (a Sergio Mendes staple, but as you've never heard it before); "That Heat" (the Erykah Badu / will.i.am collaboration); the reggae track "Bananeira" and the ever-so smooth "Please Baby Don't" with John Legend.

With something for everybody, this album would be a great pick for any music lover on your list, and don't forget to treat yourself also. Rated: 4.5 stars



Amanda Richards