The 39th studio album from
Sergio Mendes, 2019's
In the Key of Joy, is a vibrant production featuring a bevy of guest performers. The album arrived during a period of renewed activity and recognition for the Brazilian pop legend who earned his first Oscar nomination in 2012 for his song "Real in Rio" off the
Rio soundtrack, and who has steadily recorded in the 2010s, issuing similarly inspired albums like 2008's
Encanto, 2010's
Bom Tempo, and 2014's
Magic. Along with being a studio album,
In the Key of Joy also arrives as a companion piece to director
John Scheinfeld's documentary of the same name, detailing
Mendes' life and career. As with his most recent albums,
In the Key of Joy features a number of collaborations between
Mendes and artists from across the musical spectrum, including rapper
Common, vocalist
Sugar Joans, and singer
Shelea Frazier. There are also dynamic pairings with fellow Brazilian icons like guitarist/vocalist
Hermeto Pascoal,
Mendes' wife and longtime musical partner
Gracinha Leporace, and others. Refreshingly, rather than rework his past hits, here
Mendes offers newly minted songs that evoke the earthy ebullience and kinetic uplift of his classic '60s and '70s work, while also updating his sound for contemporary listeners. Thankfully, nothing is lost in the process and tracks like "Bora La" with singer
Roge and
Leporace, "Samba in Heaven" with
Joans, and "This Is It (E Isso)" with
Pascoal and
Leporace, retain all the funky, soulful rhythms and hooky melodies that made
Mendes' seminal albums so captivating. ~ Matt Collar
