While assembled from seemingly disparate sessions arranged by
Eumir Deodato,
Don Sebesky, and
Pat Williams,
Windy nevertheless proves one of
Astrud Gilberto's most consistent and sublime efforts, artfully straddling the division between Brazilian bossa nova and American sunshine pop. Credit the aforementioned arrangers for much of the LP's appeal -- from a percolating rendition of
the Association's title cut to a neo-classical reinvention of
the Beatles' "In My Life," the songs possess a lithe, shimmering beauty that perfectly complements
Gilberto's feathery vocals. Still, she can't quite skirt the cloying sweetness that undermines so many of her mid-period Verve LPs -- son Marcelo, who first joined his mother on the previous
Beach Samba for an excruciating duet version of
the Lovin Spoonful's "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice," resurfaces here for a reading of The Jungle Book's "The Bare Necessities," proving yet again that children should be seen and not heard. ~ Jason Ankeny