Jorge Ben

Jorge Ben's debut album 'Samba Esquema Novo' (1963), a classic of the samba/ bossa genres that met with great acclaim from fans and critics alike.

His characteristic style fuses samba, funk, rock and bossa nova with lyrics that blend humour and satire, often with esoteric subject matter. His hits "Chove Chuva", "Mas, Que Nada!", and "Balanca Pema", have been interpreted by artists such as Caetano Veloso, Sergio Mendes, Miriam Makeba, heavy metal band Soulfly, and Marisa Monte. The song "Mas, Que Nada!" was Jorge Ben's first big hit in Brazil, and to this day it remains the most played song, surprisingly, in the United States of all places. Outside of Brazil, the song is also known for its cover versions by Sergio Mendes and the Tamba Trio. It has also been covered by prominent jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, and Al Jarreau.