Roberto Ribeiro (1940-1996) was one of the most charismatic figures of the 1970s pagode samba scene, a smooth, confident performer who recorded one solid album after another. Here's a quick look at his work...
Roberto Ribeiro "Meus Momentos" (EMI, 1999)
Sweet samba from the '70s and early '80s... the same sort of flowery arrangements and big, bright choruses as contemporary records by Beth Carvalho and Clara Nunes. Although Ribeiro may have lacked the visceral ooomph the gals had, he's still pretty sweet. Like the other recent Meus Momentos releases, this 2-CD set collects a couple of earlier best-of discs, and the first CD is punchier than the second. But it's a fab budget-line release -- totally worth checking out!
Roberto Ribeiro "Eu Sou O Samba" (EMI, 2004)
Roberto Ribeiro "Arrasta Pova/Roberto Ribeiro" (EMI, 2010)
A much-welcome reissue of two long out-of-print albums from 1970s samba star Roberto Ribeiro... This combines Arrasta Pova, from 1976, and Roberto Ribeiro, from 1979 -- both completely killer sets, with some of the richest, purest 'Seventies samba you'll ever hear. Highly recommended!
Roberto Ribeiro & Elza Soares "Sangue, Suor E Raca" (Odeon, 1972)
(Produced by Milton Miranda & Lyrio Panicalli)
A fine, funky samba album, with samba-soul singer Elza Soares exploring new textures and modern rhythms. Newcomer Roberto Ribeiro, from the Imperio Serrano samba school, makes his recording debut as an able duet partner, helping ground Elza's normally dramatic vocals in a calmer, cooler, sexier mode. There are several longer "potpourri" medleys on here, a format I generally dislike, although here the melodies are all given a full, lush reading, and the musical end is quite lovely. All in all, a warm, inviting album, with pianist Dom Salvador back on board as arranger and bandleader. Lovely stuff... a few songs a bit on the staid side, but for the most part, a career highlight... Worth checking out!
Roberto Ribeiro/Simone/Joao De Aquino "A Bruxelles: Brasil Export '73" (EMI-Odeon, 1973)
Roberto Ribeiro "Molejo" (EMI-Odeon, 1975)
Roberto Ribeiro "Arrasta Povo" (EMI-Odeon, 1976)
Deep roots samba. A lovely, simple acoustic album -- elegant, effortless, mellow and melodic, the epitome of classy '70s-style pagode. This is a sparsely arranged, unhurried album, framing Ribeiro's equally relaxed vocals. Nice stuff!
Roberto Ribeiro "Poeira Puro" (EMI-Odeon, 1977)
Roberto Ribeiro "Coisas Da Vida" (EMI-Odeon, 1979)
Roberto Ribeiro "Fala Me Povo" (EMI-Odeon, 1980)
Roberto Ribeiro "Massa, Raca E Emocao" (EMI-Odeon, 1981)
Roberto Ribeiro "Fantasias" (EMI-Odeon, 1982)
Roberto Ribeiro "Roberto Ribeiro" (EMI-Odeon, 1983)
Roberto Ribeiro "De Palmares A Tamborim" (EMI-Odeon, 1985)
Roberto Ribeiro "Corrente De Aco" (EMI-Odeon, 1985)
Roberto Ribeiro "Sorri Pra Vida" (EMI-Odeon, 1987)
(Produced by Liebert Ferreira Pinto & Jorge Davidson) (LP)
(Arrangements by Geraldo Vespar)
The album starts off as standard-issue, '70s-ish pagode, with several uptempo songs packed with vibrant rhythm, plucky cavaquinho and a cheery vocal chorus... One begins to think, "same old, same old," and then one is mildly intrigued by the unusual, forro-flecked arrangement on "Ingrata Paixao," and jarred by the synthy soft-pop MPB of the track that follows, "Ginga Angola," compounded by the Chico Buarquian "Dom De Fingir," and one realizes that Ribeiro has indeed stirred the pot a bit. Whether you prefer the old-fashioned sambas or the lusher, jazzier MPB, this album offers fine examples of both. Certainly worth a spin!
Roberto Ribeiro "Roberto Ribeiro" (BMG-Ariola, 1988)
