ボサノヴァの創始者として『波』、『潮流』など幾多の名作を残したアントニオカルロスジョビン。そんなジョビンを敬愛してやまない坂本龍一。偉大なミュージシャンである2人が、時間と空間を超えて出会ったのが本作。 坂本がジョビンの曲を、ジョビン愛用のピアノを使い、ジョビンが生前使っていたスタジオでレコーディングするという夢のような企画なのだ。バックを務めるのは、かつてジョビンのバックで活躍していたモレレンバウム夫妻。 聴く者に「癒し」以上のものを与えてくれる、教授の奏でるジョビン。夏にはこのユニットによるコンサートツアーもあり、大きな話題となるのは必至だ。Casa is the Portuguese word for house. It's also the title of this melodic and moving tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim by the Oscar and Grammy award-winning pianist-composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, Brazilian cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, and his vocalist wife, Paula. The Morelenbaums, who cofounded Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum, both worked with the maestro, and almost all of the tracks here were recorded in Jobim's Rio home. The CD contains fluid and florid renditions of bossa nova-era classics from the Jobim canon, from Amor em Paz--with Jobim's son Paulo on guitar--and Bonita to Vivo Sonhando. It also unveils rare songs like Chanson pour Michelle, a short and sweet composition written for a soap opera, and a never-before-heard work, Tema para Ana, an intimate piano\u002Fcello duet. Sakamoto's spare and splendid pianisms ring from Jobim's piano. Morelenbaum's singing cello tones complement his wife's angelic Portuguese and English vocals. Together this talented trio--with occasional accompaniment by percussionist Marcos Suzano, guitarist Luiz Brasil, vocalist Ed Motta, and bassist Zeca Assumpao--beautifully exposes the French influences of Satie, Ravel, and Chopin in Jobim's music. --Eugene Holley, Jr.