Simone – Amar

Brazilian organist Walter Wanderley’s Rain Forest is an “easy listening” classic that has become something of a gateway record to the Exotica genre. The album features 12 well-known Brazilian and Latin bossa nova compositions written by legends like Antonio Carlos Jobim and Marcos Valle. Wanderley’s lush Hammond B3 organ is the main attraction here, though he is backed graciously by light percussion and the occasional bit of brass and guitar. The minimal arrangements work in the album’s favor and although it hits mostly the same note throughout, the tracks are never boring. There is one standout track we’d like to mention though, A4 Rain (Chuva) drops the tempo and swaps the Hammond lead for a perfectly melancholy piano line and trombone solo. Rain Forest was a favorite during our monthly tiki nights at the listening bar and we certainly recommend pairing it with a drink!
Recommended – Rain, Full Listen
A1 Summer Samba (Samba De Verao)
A2 It’s Easy To Say Good-Bye (E Fazil Dizer Adeus)
A3 Cried, Cried (Chorou, Chorou)
A4 Rain (Chuva)
A5 The Girl From Ipanema (Garota De Ipanema)
A6 Beloved Melancholy (Saudade Querida)
B1 Taste Of Sadness (Cheiro De Saudades)
B2 Beach Samba (Bossa Na Praia)
B3 Call Me
B4 Cry Out Your Sadness (Chora Tua Tristeza)
B5 The Great Love (O Grande Amor)
B6 Song Of The Jet (Samba Do Aviao)
Arranged By – Walter Wanderley
Design [Cover Design] – Acy Lehman
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Engineer [Director Of Engineering] – Val Valentin
Flute – Joe Grimm
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli
Mastered By [Vinyl] – Van Gelder*
Percussion – Bobby Rosengarden
Producer – Creed Taylor
Trombone – Urbie Green