This was bound to happen once
Sergio Mendes re-emerged in the 21st century to work with the
Black-Eyed Peas: a re-recording of his hits. The original of his first monster “Mas Que Nada” is present here near the end of the album to contrast with the new version -- the older one is so much better it's hilarious. The version of “The Look of Love,” with
Fergie, is almost hilarious. The medley reading of “Berimbau/Consolacao” with
Stevie Wonder playing harmonica is interesting, if not a knockout, and “Waters of March,” with
Ledisi, sounds different enough to actually be classified as a completely new song. Otherwise, this is a very mixed bag that there wasn’t any real need for in the first place. ~ Thom Jurek