I interrupted Brazilian music legend Sergio Mendes while he was in the studio finishing his new album. We talked about his upcoming album, his theme song for the 2014 World Cup, the music score he just completed for the new “Rio 2″ movie, his visit this week to Seattle’s Jazz Alley (March 6-9), and a few other things.
Music Producer for “Rio 2″ Movie
One of the projects just coming out of the Latin music star from Rio de Janeiro is the movie soundtrack for “Rio 2″, in which he is the Executive Music Producer. As with his same role for the 1st “Rio” animated movie, Sergio Mendes also included 4 new songs in addition to the “Real in Rio” theme, which won him an Oscar nomination for this 1st “Rio” movie. For “Rio 2″, the song “Real in Rio” is sang by Brazilian music star Milton Nascimento.
Milton Nascimento is an amazing singer who has collaborated in other music projects with Sergio Mendes. When I asked Sergio how it was to work with Milton, he simply said “he’s amazing; it’s like magic when he goes to the studio and sings with that unique, most beautiful voice. I call him the ‘mountain angel’, because he is from Minas Gerais, from a city in the mountains of Brazil, and he has that beautiful sound; I had a wonderful time working with him.”
Here is a video of the Tom Jobim song “Agua de Beber” but with Sergio Mendes with Will I Am in a different twist to the song.
New Album and 2014 World Cup Song
Another music project Sergio Mendes recently completed is the recording of an “anthem” for the 2014 World Cup. The song, titled “One Nation” will be used at the Opening Ceremony and will be included in both, the FIFA 2014 World Cup album, and in Sergio Mendes’ upcoming new album!
…and yes, as if he was just spending his days sitting around at Ipanema Beach drinking caipirinhas, Sergio Mendes is currently putting the finishing touches in his next album, to be released in May 2014. The album will feature new music with several guest artists. Among the guests in Sergio’s new album are, yes, Milton Nascimento, who wrote a song for this Sergio Mendes album, John Legend, with whom Sergio wrote a song, Seu Jorge, a young Brazilian emerging talent, Carlinhos Brown, Maria Cantu, and others.
In the audio-clip below Sergio Mendes talks about his new album:
http://www.latinomusiccafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Interview_w_Sergio_Mendes_Mar-2014-Clip1_New_Album.mp3
Sergio Mendes enjoys working with will-i-am as they’ve done in a couple of music albums.
The multiple collaborations with other artists in his new album are nothing new for Sergio Mendes. In one of my favorite Sergio Mendes albums “Timeless”, Sergio collaborates with such artists as the Black-Eyed Peas, John Legend, will-i-am, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Milton Nascimento, and others. I asked Sergio about his multiple collaborations, mentioning that I never would have envisioned Sergio Mendes doing music with The Black-Eyed Peas, and will-i-am.
“For me its very stimulating do work with other artists. When I met will-i-am he brought in so many things I was not familiar with; it was a perfect encounter. I like to work with different people, from different cultures, different ages, for me it’s a learning experience and something I like to do.” said Sergio Mendes.
Herb Albert and the Grammy Hall of Fame
Another recognition Sergio Mendes received recently was to have his iconic album “Herb Albert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66″ inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame. This occurred in 2012, along with the inductions of albums by the Rolling Stones (“Exile on Main St.”), and by Bruce Springsteen (“Born in the USA”).
The 1966 “Herb Albert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66″ was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012.
This album marked the beginning of a great music collaboration partnership and personal friendship between Herb Albert and Sergio Mendes. Albert was co-owner of the A&M Records label, and produced some of Sergio’s early big hits. As Sergio told me…”almost 50 years later we are still very close friends, with him and Lani (Hall). We recently had dinner together in L.A.”.
Jazz Alley Visit March 6 to 9
Sergio Mendes will take a break from the work on his next album to do some shows at Seattle’s Dimitrious Jazz Alley from March 6 to 9. Sergio will bring a 10-piece band to Seattle, which will be fronted by his trademark female singers, one of which is his wife Gracinha Leporace, with whom he has been married and has been in his band since the early 70s.
Here is an audio clip of my conversation with Sergio Mendes, where he talks about what Jazz and Brazilian music fans in Seattle can expect of his presentations!
http://www.latinomusiccafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Interview_w_Sergio_Mendes_Mar-2014-Clip2-Jazz_Alley.mp3
It was a pleasure to talk to Sergio Mendes and I’m sure Brazilian music enthusiasts will enjoy his musical journey during the shows at the Jazz Alley!