Great for plane spotters

Advantages: Good location to transport links
Disadvantages: Can be a noisy night

...The Ipanema Park is now about 15 year old and needing a bit of TLC however it is still a great hotel. It is located near Pasteleira which is a social housing area but do not be detracted from it. As with all major European cities it is also near Boavista which is one of the richest areas in the city. If you are lucky to be staying on the west side you will get lovely views over the sea and the river, just don't look down as you will see an old soap factory and social housing. The social housing actually looks quite good compared to UK efforts in the 60s and 70s but it is the quality of people and dirty streets that undo it all. To the East side you would get lovely views into the old city BUT for the high rise luxury apartment blocks in the way... It has two swimming pools, one covered at street level that also has...

jtamagnini 20.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ipanema Park Hotel, Porto

João Gilberto - White Album (1973)

Advantages: composition, vocals
Disadvantages: none

...Anybody can recognize "The Girl From Ipanema", it's a classic. But where did it come from? Where did Bossa Nova spread its roots? Pianist Tom Jobim is credited for the composition of most of the classic Bossa Nova standards, but is was João Gilberto who took these standards, and interpreted on the guitar what we now identify as Bossa Nova. By harmonizing the chords on the guitar with the traditional Brazilian Samba rhythm, Gilberto evolved Jobims' compositions and popularized the style. Gilberto's guitar playing is virtuous, but what really captures me is his voice. He sings with a "blown" quality as if he is blowing air from his gut, which produces an intimate close-to-the-microphone sound. It's possible to hear his lips smacking dryly during the pronounciation of certain words, and he has an excellent vocal amplitude, using...

Morellli 04.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Joao Gilberto - Joao Gilberto

Stan Getz all smooth on us.

Advantages: Near perfect saxophony.
Disadvantages: Too smooth.

...this double CD is that there is a whole bunch of other incredibly talented musicians her such as: Astrud Gilberto (vocals), Chic Corea (piano), Joao Gilberto (acoustic guitar), Max Roach on drums, and a whole host of other folk, all listed on the CD sleeve. This review would end up as a major dissertation if I reviewed every track so I won't, I'll select what for me are the best to review: ~~~~~CD1~~~~~ The Girl From Ipanema: One of those 'hate it' or 'love it' tunes. A very silky male vocal in Spanish, then a second verse from a female vocalist (Gilberto?). Getz does not get to play till almost halfway through this track when he comes in with a very strong solo. He then spends the end of the track backing the vocal with an unusually high set of notes for him. Just class. Summertime: You would not believe how many saxophone...

paulhanton 16.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sax Moods (The Very Best Of Stan Getz) - Stan Getz

Smooth Kenny gets Jazzy.

Advantages: Some smooth playing.
Disadvantages: Bit too smooth.

...Armstrong) Track 4. Desafinado Track 5. In a Sentimental Mood Track 6. Girl From Ipanema - (featuring Bebel Gilberto) Track 7. Stranger on the Shore Track 8. Body and Soul Track 9. 'Round Midnight Track 10. Over the Rainbow Summertime: For me the fact that he gets George Benson to play guitar on this is in itself an endorsement. He plays it strong and slow. To me he plays the melody so perfectly well that the words are almost heard. He can also hold a note for a serious amount of time with pure clarity. Not as edgy as Albert Ayler playing this, and not as frantic as Charlie Parker but he does 'own it'. Very smooth and very nice. 8/10. The Look of love: This is actually far too smooth for me, feels like it should be played over Ally Mc Beal or something, pass the bucket. 3/10. What a Wonderful World: One of my favourites, both to...

paulhanton 28.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Classics In The Key Of G - Kenny G

"I didn't try to kill myself...I had a headache"

Advantages: Acting, characters and soundtrack
Disadvantages: Some parts could be a litle disturbing

.... Clea Duvall plays Georgina, Susanna's pathological lying roommate. Both actresses play believable roles and are f=great supporting roles. Vanessa Redgrave and Jeffrey Tambor play 'Dr. Dyke,' and 'Dr. Melvin Potts,' respectively. I thought that it was a lovely little performance from Ms Redgrave; she was only in it for two short scenes but was excellent. THE SOUNDTRACK I thought that the soundtrack for the film was wonderful, it fit the emotion and action that I watched on the screen so well. . It is one of those soundtracks that actually enhances the film, rather than just providing background music. *"Bookends" Performed by Simon & Garfunkel *"The Girl From Ipanema" Performed by Astrud Gilberto *"Down Town" Performed by Petula Clark *"It's All Over Now Baby Blue" Performed by Them * "Got...

oldchem 17.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Girl, Interrupted (DVD)

'Welcome to Rio' says Christ the Redeemer

Advantages: One of the iconic 'must see' sights in the World
Disadvantages: A long way from UK

...in this white soapstone but I?m not totally certain. I vaguely remember those snippets of information coming from our guide. Once you are up at the top you can of course go to the little chapel under the statue. You can stand in front of it with your arms out and have your photo taken. It must tell you to do this somewhere as everyone was doing it. It never occurred to me I must say. You can also go to several spots and look at the spectacular views of Rio. It is possible to see all the way to the Sugar Loaf Mountain and beyond into the Bay. You can clearly see the Lake Rodrigo de Freitas and the Maracana football stadium as well as the main beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema as well as some of the facelas ( see my Favela Tour review). After you have used up your entire memory card or film on the camera then there is a small cafe down...

catsholiday 04.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro

Like Kew Gardens, but with monkeys

Advantages: One of the most beautiful cities in the world
Disadvantages: Not the safest city in the world

...for us by Audley Travel (www.audleytravel.co.uk) and they had arranged someone to meet us with a driver, which was probably unnecessary, but quite useful when tired after a long flight. We did however have to put up with the usual hard sell of various additional tours on the way to the hotel. Hotel Luxor Regente, Rio de Janeiro We stayed at the Luxor Regente which is a pleasant modern fifteen-storey hotel, in an absolutely wonderful location overlooking Copacabana Beach and very near Ipanema Beach. We had fantastic views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the beach from our room. Rio is divided by the Serra da Carioca Mountains into a northern and a southern zone and the hillside occupied by shantytowns on both sides. Rio de Janeiro fills a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the sea. It is a stunningly beautiful city and any good...

AndrewPo 15.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Rio de Janeiro

Latin Diva

Advantages: Beautiful lullaby voice, subtle but effective jazz backing
Disadvantages: None, all the songs are classics

...Astrud Gilberto is, in my opinion, the best female Latin-American singer to ever grace the face of the earth. Her voice is completely relaxed, free and easy; it is as if she isn’t even trying! Just hearing her voice conjures up images of Rio, sandy beaches, and the carnival. Astrud Gilberto sings Bossa nova and Samba. She first came to prominence in the mid sixties, when she sung the famous ‘Girl From Ipanema’ with her husband of the time Joao Gilberto. She recorded several albums with Joao and also jazz saxophonist Stan Getz, which all had critical acclaim. Most of the albums were recorded under the infamous Verve jazz label. Which brings us to this album. The Astrud Gilberto Album is a collection of her recordings on the Verve label from the mid to late 60’s, when she was in the prime of her career...

joannahudson 02.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Silver Collection - Astrud Gilberto

A great lake in a great city

Advantages: Calm, peaceful - lively at night - great amount of food stalls
Disadvantages: Sometimes have to face a lot of traffic when you leave

...Lagoa De Freitas, as it is usually called, is a really cool place in Rio just to hang-out and chill. It is the Carioca equivalent to Central Park in New York. Getting there can not be easier - just follow any of the main roads from Copacanaba, Leblon or Ipanema. There are plenty of car parks around, which usually cost a flat-rate of R$2, and you can keep the ticket for the whole day, which means you can usually park somewhere else around the lake later, or even in any other on-street parking point in the vicinity. During the day you usually find people jogging, running, walking or cycling around the Lagoa, as it is a pleasant location for doing this if you do not want to bump into the tourists and sunbathers at the beach. Not all of the track around the lake is paved or suitable for everyone - however the more northern edges...

ozzape 18.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, Rio de Janeiro

Forget the year, these are timeless.

Advantages: Some cracking tracks by big names.
Disadvantages: Couple of tracks that do not belong.

...Love Supreme) - John Coltrane Disc: 2 1. Mad About the Boy - Dinah Washington 2. Good Life - Tony Bennett 3. Someone to Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra 4. Misty - Sarah Vaughan (with Quincy Jones Orchestra) 5. Lady Sings the Blues - Billie Holiday 6. Summertime - Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald 7. Tell Me All About It - Natalie Cole 8. The Girl From Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto 9. Love and Affection - Courtney Pine (feat Kele Le Roc) 10. In the Mood - Glenn Miller 11. 'Round Midnight - Miles Davis 12. Just the Way You Are - Cleo Laine 13. Giblet Gravy - George Benson 14. Take the "A" Train - Duke Ellington and his Orchestra 15. April in Paris - Count Basie & his Orchestra 16. Desafinado - Stan Getz 17. Just Friends - Charlie Parker 18. Everything Happens to Me - Chet Baker Also posted on Dooyoo by me...

paulhanton 09.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Jazz Album 2003, The - Various Artists