Gil e Jorge v. Rod

Gilberto Gil e Jorge Ben – “Taj Mahal”
(from Gil e Jorge)

On paper, it sounds like it should be a total mess: Take two Brazilian guys, give them two acoustic guitars and 12 hours, and ask them to improvise and record an album. The two Brazilians will play essentially the same thing on their guitars, albeit with slightly different and highly idiosyncratic strumming patterns; and they will sing essentially the same thing at the same time, albeit with slightly different emphasis and falsettos, occasionally dipping into humming, beat boxing, or cooing.

You’d think it’d be a trainwreck, but it actually works.

Tropicália: I don’t necessarily “get” it, but I like it.

And take special note of that vocal melody Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben kick into circa 0:44 on “Taj Mahal.” Mr. Rod Stewart cribbed it for himself three years later for this little gem: