This is a dodgily packaged French reissue of a Brazilian compilation, that deceptively appears from the cover art to be a live album, is a mystery despite the relative commonplace nature of its availability. The liner notes are a French translation of a Portuguese text, so the listener is forced to make their way through that text for even a hint of where or when these tracks were recorded. Judging from the text and music, it was assembled for a 1995 release from tracks that were recorded over the previous 25 years. The cover also gives the impression that these three giants of Brazilian music, these baianos, perform together here. That's also incorrect. As previously stated, this is a compilation of relatively obscure tracks by three Brazilian superstars. The contributions by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are satisfactory, but there are many other compilations with better selections. From Gil, there is a live version of Iemanja that moves along at a good clip with a killer vocal, but the sound is muddy. Veloso's tunes are all forgettable. The lion's share of material here is by Maria Bethania, and in this way, we are treated to a delightful set of her singing the compositions of countryman Noel Rosa, whose Tres Apitos and Pra Que Mentirr (both featured here) are practically Brazilian anthems, accompanied primarily by her stellar acoustic guitar playing. Of these tracks, it's the album's closer, Silençio De Un Minuto, that Bethania has recorded no less than three other times, that is the finest track on the album; a ballad in the purest, most aching sense of the word, her dry, smoky delivery creates a wall of tears for the listener to sift her way through, whether or not they understand the language, because the emotional transference is that pure. This isn't an excellent compilation by any stretch of the imagination, but it is worth the budget price because of the Bethania performances alone. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi

1		Cavaleiro
2		Roda
3		Samba em Paz
4		Viramundo
5		Procissao
6		Iemanja
7		Tres Apitos
8		Pra que Mentir
9		Feitio de Oracao
10		Ultimo Desejo
11		X Do Problema
12		Silencio de Um Minuto