The Return Case of the Jorge Ben Summer Sizzle

It is a rite of summer... I'm talking about my annual Jorge Ben tribute show.

Listening to my first Jorge Ben hits compilation was a profound experience; no LP acquisition has ever had such a powerful impact on my music collection. After I heard Jorge Ben, I realized there was an immense exotic world of music in Brazil that I had to investigate. Years later Jorge Ben is still my favorite artist from Brazil. His music reminds me of the first time I heard Bob Marley as a teen... what other music would I possibly want to party with? Those sweet sounds so perfectly encapsulate the carefree happy relaxation of summer, and they have the power to take me to that happy place any time I put them on.

So every year I take some great songs by Jorge Ben and mix 'em up for a mid-summer show. All songs today either performed by, or composed by, Jorge Ben (in most cases both are true). Jorge Ben is surely one of the most-covered composers in Brazilian music history; covers of his songs are everywhere.