Samba Esquema Novo
Jorge Ben Jor
1963
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1963, Samba Esquema Novo marks the recording debut of Jorge Ben Jor, then known as Jorge Ben, and is a fundamental milestone in Brazilian music. The album introduced the world to a truly innovative sound, transcending the boundaries between traditional samba, bossa nova and nascent influences from jazz, soul and rock, forging a unique musical identity that would be baptised 'samba-rock' or 'sambalanço'. With a vibrant sound and propulsive rhythms, the record stood out for the percussive strumming of Jorge Ben's acoustic guitar, combined with big band arrangements that added punch to the contagious melodies. The album not only proposed a 'new scheme' for samba but also united different lifestyles, attracting audiences who previously divided themselves between more popular samba and more erudite bossa nova, cementing Brazil's position on the global pop scene.
On his debut album, Jorge Ben laid out the musical direction he would take, combining elements of traditional samba with jazz beats and soul music foundations, resulting in an irresistible groove that departed from traditional rhythms.
Toninho Spessoto · Rolling Stone Brasil
Context
In the early 1960s, the Brazilian music scene was dominated by bossa nova, a genre that João Gilberto had popularised globally. However, Jorge Ben emerged with a proposal that distanced itself from both the 'square bossa nova' and the Jovem Guarda rock that was beginning to appear. Before recording Samba Esquema Novo, Jorge Ben already performed in Rio de Janeiro clubs, including the famous Beco das Garrafas, a bossa nova stronghold in Copacabana, where he was accompanied by jazz ensembles. His particular way of playing the acoustic guitar and singing, full of swing, already demonstrated the outlines of his genius and the originality that would shape this debut album.
Recording
The album Samba Esquema Novo was recorded in 1963 and produced by Armando Pittigliani, released by the Philips record label. Jorge Ben was responsible for the vocals and the acoustic guitar, which became a trademark of his percussive sound. For the recording, he had the support of the renowned samba jazz group Meirelles e os Copa 5, which included prominent names such as J.T. Meirelles on flute and saxophone, Luís Carlos Vinhas on piano, Pedro Paulo on trumpet, Manuel Gusmão on bass and Dom Um Romão on drums. The musical arrangements were conceived by Carlos Monteiro de Souza, Gaya, J. T. Meirelles, Luís Carlos Vinhas and Jorge Ben Jor himself, resulting in a rich and harmonious fusion of samba elements with the sophistication of jazz.
Songs
Samba Esquema Novo features 12 tracks, mostly compositions by Jorge Ben Jor, with the notable exception of "Tim Dom Dom". The album is a true arsenal of classics, including the original versions of iconic songs such as "Mas, Que Nada!", which became an international hit and one of the most re-recorded Brazilian songs in the world. Other prominent tracks include "Chove Chuva" and "Balança Pema", which also established themselves in popular repertoire. Ben's lyrics, often described as simple and even somewhat naive, address themes of love and everyday life with humour and a distinctive carioca accent. His singing style, sometimes swapping the 'c' for an 'x' in words like 'você' (pronounced 'vossê'), adds a layer of charm and colloquialism. Musically, the songs are anchored by Ben's percussive acoustic guitar and are enriched with bossa nova rhythms and brass arrangements that lend a contagious swing to the overall work.
Informed by composer and producer João Melo that Zé Maria, the crooner for the night organist, hired for a performance fee, had written two highly original songs for the album Tudo azul, which was due out on Continental, producer Armando Pittigliani, then of Philips, wanted to hear him. "When Jorge Ben (long before the Jor) started playing his guitar, I signed the contract on the spot."
Tárik de Souza · 300 Discos Importantes
Legacy
Despite an initially sceptical critical reception, with the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo even predicting the record would quickly disappear from stores, Samba Esquema Novo completely reversed that expectation, becoming an album of immense popularity and lasting recognition. It features at number 15 on Rolling Stone Brasil's list of the "100 melhores discos da música brasileira", and was also ranked among the 30 best Brazilian albums and the 30 best Latin American albums. The album's impact was so significant that it is credited as pioneering the 'samba-rock' or 'sambalanço' style, influencing a myriad of artists across different generations. Established musicians such as Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos and Elis Regina, for example, re-recorded Jorge Ben's songs, attesting to his broad influence within MPB. The song "Mas, Que Nada!" in particular became a global phenomenon, re-recorded by names like Sérgio Mendes, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson and Al Jarreau, consolidating the album's international legacy. Its cultural relevance is so great that even the group Mundo Livre S/A made a reference to the title in their 1994 debut album, Samba Esquema Noise.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Carlos Monteiro De Souza, João Theodoro Meirelles, Lindolfo Gaya, Luiz Carlos Vinhas
Armando Pittigliani
Meirelles E Os Copa 5
Sylvio Rabello
Célio Martins
Paulo Breves
Mafra
Videos
JORGE BEN - SAMBA ESQUEMA NOVO (1963) | ALBUM REVIEW
Vinilteca
Samba esquema novo - Jorge Ben Jor | Resenha | Papo de Mattar 48
Guilherme Mattar
3000 Best Albums [1706] Jorge Ben - Samba Esquema Novo (1963) Dan's Mini Album Review
Dan's Mini Album Reviews
Audio Shop Podcast: Samba Esquema Novo by Jorge Ben Jor
Audio Shop
Books
The 500 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The election was spearheaded by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, creator of the Discoteca Básica podcast. Ricardo consulted 162 specialists including journalists, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, record-shop owners and producers. The result was published as a 200-page hardcover book, with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
300 Important Albums of Brazilian Music
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Analyses
Samba Esquema Novo – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Samba Esquema Novo – The 100 Greatest Albums of Brazilian Music
Toninho Spessoto · Rolling Stone Brasil
Neste seu primeiro disco, Jorge Ben definia os rumos musicais que seguiria, colocando lado a lado elementos do samba de raiz com a batida do jazz e fundamentos da soul music, resultando num suingue irresistível que fugia da levada tradicional e ia além dos ditames da bossa nova. Acompanhando-se ao violão – tempos depois passaria para a guitarra –, Jorge, então com 20 anos, produzia batida própria e inimitável, e lançava temas que se tornariam clássicos como “Mas, Que Nada”, “Balança Pema”, “Por Causa de Você, Menina” e “Chove Chuva”.
"Samba Esquema Novo" (Philips, 1963), Jorge Ben Jor
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
Trata-se deSamba Esquema Novo, álbum de estreia de Jorge Ben, que a partir de 1989, rebatizou seu nome artístico para Jorge Ben Jor. O álbum trazia em suas faixas uma sonoridade que era mesmo tempo simples e complexa, reconhecível, mas difícil de classificar.
Jorge Ben Jor, projetado há 60 anos com 'samba esquema novo ... - G1
g1.globo.com
Som do cantor, compositor e músico carioca é uma das matrizes mais copiadas e influentes desde que o artista lançou o primeiro single em julho de 1963.
Jorge Ben - Samba Esquema Novo (1963) | cenaindie
cenaindie.com
Lançado em 1963, ' Samba Esquema Novo' de Jorge Ben Jor é um marco na música brasileira. Em um contexto de mudanças, com a ascensão da bossa nova e da Jovem Guarda, o álbum surge como algo único: nem bossa nova, nem rock, mas uma fusão vibrante de samba, jazz e pop.
Discogs
Samba Esquema Novo – Discogs
discogs.com