 List Price: $14.98
Lowest Price: $9.51 
Album Description: Robert Lamm is one of the original members of the legendary group Chicago and he is the man behind a lot of their hit songs. Beside Chicago he has made a solo career and he has releasedseveral solo albums. Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-19
Where Made-In-the-USA Samba and Bossa Thrill
It is truly inspiring when an artist who has proven to be extremely successful with the public and the critics alike takes his/her chance by landing in considerably new territory. On the other hand, the group Chicago's career and Robert Lamm's particular history of daunting crossovers and fusions (within and without the band) had subtly prepared us for the unpredictable, for the novelty that is truly fresh and authentic in its bold flight beyond previously established musical boundaries. Lamm's new release inspires us into that artistic courage while confirming our trust in his ability to breakthrough, to visit, to take risks, to mingle, and to come out anew, more creative and more convincing in his honest approach to making art music. The Bossa Project is not just bossa nova, even though bossa is huge anyway, whether one likes it or not. By the way, celebrating 50 years of existence now, this Brazilian style is no passing fad in the hands of Stan Getz or the like; it remains an emotionally vibrant and yet subtly seducing type of musicality with an open door to multiple explorations, including unheard-of mixing with contemporary trends in electronica and so-called world music. Lamm goes beyond bossa nova, though, when he encounters and excels in nothing but samba, which is no easy terrain for any musician not born, raised or intensively trained in Brazil. He does it marvelously in band partner (and arranger) John Van Epps' tune "Samba in Your Life" or in his own delightful composition, "Send Rain." Since bossa is undeniably rooted in samba, a musical dialog between the two music styles (or two points in the musical development lane that keeps going forward in time) can be enchanting in the hands of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, but so is it in "Speak Low," by Kurt Weill and Odgen Nash. For bossa nova fans, here is a tip: Lamm's rendition of "Águas de Março" ("Waters of March"), the only Brazilian original tune in the disc, would make Jobim rejoice with us. Flutist Zé Luis helps, but it is mostly due to Lamm's credit (with his soothing voice naturally resembling that of our beloved Ipanema singer-songwriter) that an unforgettable world-class song continues to entrance us, as it wears new hats and new clothes on international shores from time to time.
Dario Borim Jr, UMass Dartmouth Professor and WUMD Radio Producer/Host of Brazilliance Rating:
Date: 2008-07-13
Robert Lamm's been working overtime, and the results show
Robert Lamm keeps a busy touring schedule with his band, Chicago, but sometimes finds time for this side projects. Lucky for us, he found time for The Bossa Project. These songs suit his supple vocal style fine, and the arrangements are appropriate yet adventuresome. The stand-out tracks to listen too are "Nice and Easy", "Girl Talk" and "The Possibility of Life" ; however, you can't go wrong with the work. Great for summer listening. Rating:
Date: 2008-07-10
New from Robert Lamm
More great music from Robert Lamm who's wasting his time with the group Chicago. He has such a wide range of new and exciting music that performing that old stuff from his Chicago days must be boring for him. Also check out his album "Subtly and Passion". Would love to see him in person in a small venue. Rating:
Date: 2008-06-14
Highly Listenable
I had high hopes for Lamm's Bossa Project when I first heard about it maybe 18 months ago. I'd heard cuts from it on his MySpace and was impressed; yet it seemed, from the length of time it took for it to be released on disc, that Lamm had trouble selling this project. The Bossa Project is unlike anything Lamm has recorded before, and certainly a departure from his work with Chicago. Lamm admits to a long love of bossa music, popularized by the likes of Stan Getz, famous for Girl from Ipanema back in the 1960s.
This collection of covers interspersed with originals is a worthy addition to Lamms' legacy, showcasing his unmistakable style as a composer, but also the lower range of his voice, which is a perfect fit for this genre. Notable cuts include covers of A Man and a Woman, Aguas de Marco, Nice "n' Easy and Girl Talk (although the latter, by today's standards, might be a touch politically incorrect!), Samba in Your Life, as well as the Lamm originals Send Rain and, particularly, The Possibility of Life.
Kudos, Robert, for once again pushing the envelope of contemporary music! Highly listenable and recommended.
Rating:
Date: 2008-06-07
Pitch perfect summer opener
Got mine on 5/28. Ripped open the plastic (pesky though it was) and played it. I have listened to the versions on Mr. Lamm's myspace site for these past months but hearing these tunes sonically perfect was great. My six-year-old (whose favorite Chicago tune is Saturday in the Park) liked it. As a sax player, Larry Klimas's solos were sublime. And the flute. Fantastic. One of the underrated treats of this recording is its acousticiveness. (Yeah, I just made that up.) Sure, the 'orchestral programming' was computer generated but the rest of the CD sounds warm, immediate. There are places where you can hear JVE's fingers sliding over the strings. That warmness is what is missing from lots of overproduced music nowadays.
Another thought: Lamm took a chance with this CD. Other singers took creative chances (Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions; Sting with the lute CD; Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet) and are better artists for it. In this day and age, with the fading of radio's influence, it's nice to see artists recording projects they want to record. It's nice to have CDs like The Bossa Project. ([...]) |
