Luz
Djavan
1982
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Luz is the fifth studio album by the acclaimed Brazilian singer and songwriter Djavan, released in 1982, and represents a fundamental milestone in his discography. The work was immediately recognised by critics as a project that brought a 'shine to the ears and eyes', consolidating what, for many, was the most avant-garde in Brazilian music of the time. This album is a notable fusion of romantic ballads and swinging songs, with sophisticated arrangements and jazz harmonies. It stands out for featuring eternal classics of the national songbook, such as 'Samurai', 'Pétala', 'Açaí', 'Sina', 'Esfinge', 'Capim', and the title track 'Luz', which were immediately recognised by the public and critics. With a pop touch and impeccable production, Luz is a work that transcends generations.
Context
In 1982, Djavan received an invitation from the record label CBS, later Sony Music, to expand his career into the United States. This invitation included the opportunity to release his music in the American market and, significantly, to record his new album in studios in the USA. This transition marked a moment of international projection for the artist.
Recording
The recording of Luz took place in American studios, under the production of Ronnie Foster, a prominent name in soul music at the time. This international collaboration contributed to the polished and sophisticated sound of the album. During the recording period in Los Angeles, the song 'Samurai' was composed, featuring the special participation of American musician Stevie Wonder, who recorded a harmonica duet with Djavan.
Songs
The album Luz is a mosaic of striking compositions, all written by Djavan, which are divided between romantic ballads and more rhythmic tracks. Among the standout songs are the pop ballads 'Pétala' and 'Açaí', in addition to 'Nobreza' and 'Banho de Rio', which were accompanied by orchestras, adding a layer of instrumental richness. In the segment of swinging tracks, the album shines with 'Luz', 'Capim', 'Sina', 'Samurai', 'Esfinge', and 'Minha Irmã'. The work is praised for its interesting harmonies and melodies, with arrangements clearly influenced by jazz, which gives the songs a timeless complexity and freshness.
Legacy
Luz was critically acclaimed from its release. The newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo praised the album, stating that it brought a 'shine to the ears and eyes' and represented the most avant-garde in Brazilian music. Alvaro Neder, from the AllMusic website, rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the division between romantic songs and swinging tracks, as well as the jazz-influenced arrangements. Mauro Ferreira, from the Notas Musicais website, awarded the album 5 out of 5 stars, defining it as a 'pop explosion'. He stated that Luz was the album that transformed Djavan into a 'superstar' through impressive sales, a string of hits, and the excellent use of the technological resources of the era.
Tracks
Credits
Luiz Avellar
George Del Barrio
Moacir Santos
Ronnie Foster
Djavan
Abraham Laboriel
Luis Conte
Café
Harvey Mason
Jorge Dalto
Bill Reichenbach
Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Keith Seppanen
Bernie Grundman
Lobianco
Monique Gardenberg, Todd Gray, Zé Nogueira, sam emerson
Fernando Carvalho
Podcasts
Sons e Histórias · Daniel Queiroz
Raildo Vasconcelos, Junior Beatle e Daniel Queiroz contam curiosidades em comentam o disco "Luz" do cantor e compositor Djavan lançado em 1982
“Luz” é o quinto disco de estúdio de Djavan e um dos seus maiores sucessos de público e crítica. Gravado em 33 dias nos Estados Unidos, “Luz” traz alguns dos maiores hits da carreira do artista alagoano, como “Samurai”, “Sina”, “Açaí” e a própria faixa-título. Esse é um marco importante para a internacionalização de Djavan, pois “Luz” contou com produção de Ronnie Foster, uma lenda do soul e do ja
PodCália · Gigola
“Eu espero que o Brasil e o mundo se deem conta do que eles têm em Djavan”. O ano era 1982 quando o produtor musical americano Ronnie Foster escreveu esta mensagem. A esperança dele não era vã: era Djavan. Que, aos 33 anos, aterrissava em Los Angeles para gravar um disco o qual, quase quatro décadas depois, comprova cada vez mais aquilo que o Brasil e o mundo já se deram conta. Não haveria como aq
Mpb Importance - O Podcast Da Mpb · Anderson Heredia
Nesse episódio falamos sobre um dos melhores artistas da nossa mpb, Caetano Vianna, ou melhor, Djavan e seu disco de estreia na CBS.
Videos
DJAVAN - LUZ (1982) | ALBUM REVIEW
Vinilteca
LUZ! O IRREMEDIÁVEL NEON DE DJAVAN!!!!
Canal Musicália
"Luz" - Djavan | Melhores discos brasileiros dos anos 80 | Alta Fidelidade
Alta Fidelidade
DJAVAN: 40 ANOS DE "LUZ" E INÍCIO DA CARREIRA INTERNACIONAL | ALBUM REVIEW
Som de Peso
LUZ (1982) | DJAVAN - Por que este DISCO impulsionou a TALENTOSA carreira de DJAVAN?
A MÚSICA, O FILME E O LIVRO
Films
Books
Álbum 3 – 1978 a 1993
Pedro Alexandre Sanches · 2024
How to tell the story of Brazilian music? The 'Álbum' series proposes to start with these creations that transcend time and mark the experience of different generations: the records. Starting in 1950 and reaching the present day, journalist and music critic Pedro Alexandre Sanches recounts this story by tracing the trajectory of the most relevant albums. This volume covers the period from 1978 to 1993, including Djavan's album 'Luz', released in 1982, thus being a probable source of in-depth analysis on the record.
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Analyses
Luz – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Djavan: Luz (1982) and Lilas (1984) - David Reaboi
davereaboi.com
By the time 1982 came around, the hipper listeners in the United States had noticed. Djavan found keyboardist Ronnie Foster working as a producer of high quality pop music in LA after spending the 1970s making cult-classic jazz-funk records on Blue Note.
"Luz", Djavan (1982)
lucasbonetti.com.br
Today's recommendation to end the year is a Brazilian music classic: Luz (1982), by Djavan. Recorded in Los Angeles, the album marks an important moment in Djavan's career, consolidating his characteristic sound in an impeccable production.
"Luz" (CBS, 1982), Djavan - discosessenciais.blogspot.com
discosessenciais.blogspot.com
The excellent commercial success of Luz marked Djavan's grand debut on CBS. He would soon become one of the label's top-selling artists and one of MPB's biggest stars.
Álbum Luz — Djavan
djavan.com.br
This could, perhaps, be considered the album that yielded the most classics from Djavan's repertoire. Songs like "Capim", "Sina", "Pétala", "Açaí", "Esfinge", "Nobreza", "Banho de Rio" and "Minha irmã" are some examples of the songs that marked Brazilian music and are still successful today.
