Product 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.

Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34795 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

Customer Reviews

An aptly-titled album from a timeless artist
Mendes's "Fool on the Hill" was one of the first albums that this then fifteen-year-old bought with his allowance. Thus began an almost forty-year love affair with the Brazilian's sound. One can't imagine my excitement when I learned of the release of "Timeless," his first album of new music in over a decade.

And what an album it is!!! The disc is an outstanding blend of the old and the new, with cuts to satisfy the contemporary crowd as well as those of us with nostalgia of the soul.

Though the album features guest performances from the likes of Justin Timberlake to Jill Scott to John Legend, the best cuts are those that harkens back to the cool 1960's, adding a new dimension with rap and modern rhythms. The revisit of "Mais Que Nada," "Berimbau/Consolacao" (featuring vocals by Gracinha Leporace and a killer hamonica solo from Stevie Wonder), "Bananeira," the title cut (with India.Arie on vocals), "Lamento (No Morro)," "Yes, Yes Y'All," and "Samba Da Bencao," are thrilling in every way and certain to appeal to an international audience.

Bravo for Mendes and, hopefully, with the utilization of modern stars, he will reach a young audience that will discover one of music's legendary innovators.

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

Not all the hype
John legend and india irie save the day on this album and the £9.97 i paid made that seem worthwhile Heard better this year in Albums.