Gilberto Gil & Jorge Ben

In 1975, Jorge Ben and Gilberto Gil had already known each other for almost a decade. Their admiration was mutual. Between their participation in TV shows and their collaboration on Gal Costa's track "País Tropical", they regularly crossed paths. But the two men only worked together on this one album Jorge Ben Gilberto Gil, thanks in part to a certain Eric Clapton!

That year, the Australian producer Robert Stigwood, then owner of RSO Records, was the agent of one of the most emblematic guitarists of the moment: Eric "God" Clapton. Stigwood had the idea of taking the British musician to Brazil for a vacation. Before arriving, he called his friend André Midani, then president of Phonogram, to propose a meeting between Clapton and his foals.

A dinner party was organized at his house with various MPB heavyweights: Caetano Veloso, Rita Lee, Erasmo Carlos, Nelson Motta, and even Cat Stevens are present, among other names, including Gil and Jorge. The idea is to prepare a sort of jam with Clapton. Everyone sits down on the floor and starts to play.

In his autobiography, Midani recalls : "Eric (Clapton) arrived with a beautiful white guitar. Gil, Jorge and (Cat) Stevens were with their guitars or their guitars. Sitting in a circle, Jorge, Gil, Stevens and Clapton begun an incredible jam session. Cat Stevens was the first to pick up. Shortly after, Clapton's dropped his guitar and became a fascinated spectator. Jorge and Gil played opposite each other, visiting strange musical worlds unknown to me, a mere mortal who watched the concert as a challenge between African knights of the Middle Ages. Gil improvised with frightening virtuosity, while Jorge, unflappable, kept the rhythm. Sometimes Gil would take over the rhythm for a few minutes, and Jorge would pick it up; other times they would hold the rhythm together. I felt that they had literally merged... I asked them to go into the studio and record this incredible artistic collaboration. From there, the album Gil e Jorge was born."

CREDITS :

Jorge Ben - voice, acoustic guitar

Gilberto Gil - voice, acoustic guitar

Djalma Correa - percussion

Wagner Dias - bass

Design - Aldo Luiz, Rogério Duarte

Mastered By - Joaquim Figueira

Producer [Direction] - P. Tapajós*, P. Albuquerque*

Technician [Recording] - Ary*, João Moreira, Luigi*, Luis Claudio*