If you say Sergio Mendes, you say Mas Que Nada. This world-famous song belongs to him like the Nightwatch to Rembrandt. It is one of the few Brazilian songs that both young and old will know. Mendes first released Mas Que Nada in 1966, but the younger generation is probably more familiar with the latest version, the one that Mendes recorded for his album Timeless in collaboration with American hip-hop formation The Black Eyed Peas in 2006. Toward the end of the ‘50s, in the era of the bossa nova, Mendes used to perform in nightclubs all over Brazil as a jazz pianist. Despite the fact that Mendes was a promising classical pianist, he immediately embraced the new musical genre. Not soon after, he started touring Europe and the United States and had great hits playing covers of international artists like Burt Bacharach, Hal David, The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. Nowadays, his My Space page indicates that his music is best described as a combination of Latin, pop and hip-hop. And, because of his many cooperative efforts with well-known modern artists, the 69-year-old musician keeps abreast of present-day music. He also hasn’t lost his magical touch, as can be heard on his latest album Encanto. On it he combines irresistible rhythms with equally irresistible melodies. Fellow artists like Ledisi, Herb Alpert, Natalie Cole and Till Brönner accompany him on this album.