Pop-samba singer Jair Rodrigues was a tireless performer whose reputation was made on television and in a series of mid-'60s concerts with jazz singer Elis Regina. Their popular variety show led to three albums (The Dois Na Bossa trilogy) that helped cement the incipient tropicalia movement, and propelled both Regina and Rodrigues into permanent national popularity. I don't know much else about him, other than that one of his later records, , is just stunningly gorgeous, and was one of the key albums that cemented my love of Brazilian music... Almost none of the other records I've heard by him have nearly as marvellous, but there are dozens more for me to check out, so I'm still hopeful. I'll keep you all posted.
Jair Rodrigues "Vou De Samba Com Voce" (Philips, 1964)
Jair Rodrigues "O Samba Como Ele E" (Philips, 1965)
Jair Rodrigues & Elis Regina "Dois Na Bossa" (Philips, 1965)
Jair Rodrigues & Elis Regina "Dois Na Bossa No. 2" (Philips, 1966)
Jair Rodrigues & Elis Regina "Dois Na Bossa No. 3" (Philips, 1967)
These three albums were spun off of concert and television appearances the two made as a duet (and which propelled them both to great fame). There is an appearance of youthful brashness here, but also a calculated, Vegas-y professionalism. The band, especially the percussion, is driving and aggressive, and the vocals get pretty flashy. One mild complaint: each of the Dois Na Bossa discs are pretty short -- it might be more satisfying (and more appealing) if Philips went ahead and edited together the best material into a single release.
Jair Rodrigues "O Sorriso Do Jair" (Philips, 1966)
Jair Rodrigues "Jair" (Philips, 1967)
Jair Rodrigues "Menino Rei Da Alegria" (Philips, 1968)
Jair Rodrigues "Jair De Todos Os Sambas" (Philips, 1969)
Jair Rodrigues "Jair De Todos Os Sambas, v.2" (Philips, 1969)
Jair Rodrigues "Talento E Bossa Do Jair Rodrigues" (Philips, 1970)
Jair Rodrigues "E Isso Ai" (Philips, 1971)
Jair Rodrigues "Festa Para Um Rei Negro" (Philips, 1971)
Jair Rodrigues "Com A Corda Toda" (Philips, 1972)
Jair Rodrigues "Orgulho De Um Sambista" (Philips, 1973)
An absolutely gorgeous album of swaying, romantic sambas and saudades; one of my longtime favorites. If you see this album, do not hesitate to snap it up.
Jair Rodrigues "Dez Anos Depois" (Philips, 1974)
Jair Rodrigues "Abra Um Sorriso Novamente" (Philips, 1974)
Jair Rodrigues "Ao Vivo No Olympia de Paris" (Philips, 1975)
Jair Rodrigues "Eu Sou O Samba" (Phonogram, 1975)
Jair Rodrigues "Minha Hora A Vez" (Phonogram, 1976)
Jair Rodrigues "Estou Com O Samba E Nao Abro!" (Phonogram, 1977)
Jair Rodrigues "Pisei Chao" (Phonogram, 1978)
Jair Rodrigues "Couro Comendo" (Philips, 1978)
Jair Rodrigues "Antologia Da Seresta" (Philips, 1979)
Disappointingly slushy arrangements, surrounding his otherwise commanding voice.
Jair Rodrigues "Estou Lhe Devendo Um Sorriso" (Polygram, 1980)
Jair Rodrigues "Alegria De Um Povo" (Philips, 1981)
A solid samba-pop album. Includes (gosh!) a song written by and guest-starring soccer legend Pele. Nothing earthshaking, but it ain't bad.
Jair Rodrigues "Antologia Da Seresta, v.2" (Polygram, 1981)
Jair Rodrigues "Jair Rodrigues De Oliveira" (Polygram, 1982)
Jair Rodrigues "Carinhoso" (Polygram, 1983)
Jair Rodrigues "Luzes Do Prazer" (Polygram, 1984)
Jair Rodrigues "Jair Rodrigues" (Copacabana, 1987)
Jair Rodrigues "Jair Rodrigues" (Copacabana, 1988)
Jair Rodrigues "Lamento Sertanejo" (Copacabana, 1991)
Jair Rodrigues "Viva Meu Samba" (Movieplay, 1994)
I'm really just guessing at the date on this one, since it's (musically) about halfway between the early-seventies acoustic albums I love, and the later stuff with iffy pop production. This album literally straddles these styles, with samba songs which are good, but give glimmers of drekky pop to come.
Jair Rodrigues "Eu Sou... Jair Rodrigues" (Movieplay, 1996)
Jair Rodrigues "De Todas As Bossas" (Som Livre, 1998)
Jair Rodrigues "500 Anos De Folia: 100% Ao Vivo" (Trama, 1999)
Jair Rodrigues "500 Anos De Folia, v.2" (Trama, 2000)
Jair Rodrigues "Interprete" (Trama, 2002)
Jair Rodrigues "Nova Bossa Por Jair Rodrigues" (Trama, 2004)
Jair Rodrigues "Alma Negra" (Trama, 2005)
Jair Rodrigues "Em Branco E Preto" (2008)
Jair Rodrigues "A Arte De..." (Polygram, 2005)
This was originally issued in the 1970s as part of the incredible A Arte series... Wow. I bet this disc is really, really, really, really good.
Jair Rodrigues "Minha Historia" (Philips, 1993)
A fab, but way too brief, overview of his career. The tracks span 1964-84, and though sadly nothing from the sublime 1973 Orgulho de Um Sambista album is included, plenty of other nice stuff is. Probably the most intriguing track is the scat-styled "Deixa Isso Pra La," from 1964, which has a Ray Charles-y hipsterrific feel to it, similar to Wilson Simonal's stuff around the same time. Other more cabaret tinged material is also included, although it's his explorations of mellow acoustic sambas which really have the most appeal. This disc is long out of print, but worth looking for nonetheless.
Jair Rodrigues "Raizes Do Samba" (EMI, 1999)
An absolute delight! Although these are all later recordings, made for the Copacabana label between 1985-87, the old, mellow acoustic air is there. FUN stuff, with sweet vocals and delicate, beautiful, sambadelic arrangements. Definitely worth picking up if you get a chance!
Jair Rodrigues "20 Super Sucessos" (Polydisc)
This retrospective draws on later work on several labels -- EMI, Trama, Abril and others -- nothing to match the glory of his early-'70s albums, but nice enough, in a workmanlike way. Other than a brief flirtation with hip-hop production (ouch.), this is okay.
Jair Rodrigues "Serie Sem Limite" (Universal, 2002)
Jair Rodrigues "I Love MPB" (Universal, 2005)
Jair Rodrigues "Novo Millennium" (Universal-Mercury, 2005)
Jair Rodrigues "Obras Primas" (2007)
