Seu Jorge, Live at Montreux 2005 (Eagle, 2006)

Most North American audiences first saw Seu Jorge (pronounced SAY-oo ZHOR-zhee) as either Knockout Ned in the Academy-Award nominated City of God, or as Pelé Dos Santos in Wes Anderson's Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. For me it was the latter, and I fell in love with Jorge's beautiful renditions of David Bowie songs sung in Portuguese. I get shivers still, listening to the resulting album.

Live at Montreux 2005 opens with "Mania de Peitão." It's a great introduction to the rest of the album, with the appeal of early Talking Heads performances, especially live ones; the energy starts off high and doesn't come down.

Tracks four and five, "São Gonça" and "Una Mujer," are my favorites. Both originally from his second album Cru (translation: "Raw"), they're just Jorge, his guitar, and that heady mix of bittersweet intimacy and charismatic enthusiasm that makes this man a spectacular performer. Gilberto Gil fans should enjoy these, too.

Next is "Te Queria," a real crowd-pleaser; you can hear the yells, catcalls, and active participation of an appreciative audience. Staccato dance beats, plenty of percussion and Jorge's rapid-fire lyrics and punchy delivery have an almost hip-hop appeal.

The album takes a turn at "Cirandar." More complex, this track relies heavily on traditional rhythms and South American beats, and is evocative of Latin big-band greats from the fifties and sixties. Samba pulses throughout, and "Coqueiro Verde" moves seamlessly into "Depois que o Ilê Passar," which showcases Jorge at his most intense -- again, I'm reminded of Talking Heads and Stop Making Sense -- until the album unwinds into a jam-session percussion finale led by Jorge's bandmates.

Jorge's July 10, 2005, Montreux appearance was originally released in 2006 as a DVD of the live performance. Three days after Montreux, Jorge joined such greats as Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben Jor and Caetano Veloso in Paris for a concert at the Bastille, meant to celebrate France's "Brazilian Year." Jorge was originally scheduled to appear on a BBC program with the Blackeyed Peas, but was prevented from doing so by an expired work permit. Jorge continued his US tour the following September, to enthusiastic audiences and sold-out venues. This resilient and versatile performer does not disappoint.

Jorge's English-version Web site is being updated at the time of this review, but you can find it here.

[Camille Alexa]