Samba Esquema Novo
Jorge Ben Jor
1963
Rankings
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 this, his first record, Jorge Ben defined the musical directions he would take, placing side by side elements of traditional samba with the beat of jazz and the fundamentals of soul music, resulting in an irresistible swing that departed from the traditional rhythm.
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.
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
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.
300 Discos Importantes da Música Brasileira
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
On this, his first record, Jorge Ben defined the musical directions he would take, placing side by side elements of traditional samba with the beat of jazz and the fundamentals of soul music, resulting in an irresistible swing that departed from the traditional rhythm.
Samba esquema novo - Jorge Ben Jor | The Greatest Music
thegreatestmusic.org
Explore our in-depth review and ranking of Samba esquema novo by Jorge Ben Jor. Features, track listings, and why it's one of the greatest albums in Bossa Nova history.
Jorge Ben Jor 'Samba Esquema Novo' (1963) - MUSIC OF MATTHEW.
musicofmatthew.com
If I had to describe Jorge Ben Jor's debut album Samba Esquema Novo in one phrase it would be "relaxed energy". This 28 minute samba rock album puts you at ease while compelling you to get up and move, all at the same time. It is a calm call to action. Compared to American jazz, which lends itself to more introspection and risk-taking, Samba Rock is compact and contains a defined purpose ...
"Samba Esquema Novo" (Philips, 1963), Jorge Ben Jor
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
This is Samba Esquema Novo, Jorge Ben's debut album, who, from 1989 onwards, rebranded his stage name to Jorge Ben Jor. The album's tracks featured a sound that was at once simple and complex, recognisable, yet difficult to classify.
