Brazil — All Formats  

A great look at an under-acknowledged period of the career of Eumir Deodato – his mid 70s sides for MCA, recorded right after his better-known records for CTI! The vibe here is quite similar to the jazzy funk that Deodato laid down in the earlier part of the decade – a bit fuller at times, thanks to some added instrumentation, but still filled with amazing work on Fender Rhodes throughout – sweetly soaring keys that come off better than most of Deodato's contemporaries on the fusion scene. The set list here is totally great – and features most of the best tracks from Deodato's four albums for MCA – all distilled down into one great 14 track collection that's filled with wonderful keyboard grooves. Titles include "Amani", "Do It Again", "Moonlight Serenade", "Havana Strut", "Whirlwinds", "Juanita", "Funk Yourself", "Adam's Hotel", "Black Widow", and "Super Strut".

A wonderful collaboration between vocalist Tom Lellis and guitarist Toninho Horta – a set that's easily one of the best that Lellis has ever recorded! We've always been big fans of Tom's work, and even though he's never fully gotten his due, he's a singer who's been working for decades – with a rich-toned, openly fluid style that's a lot like Mark Murphy at his best – but guided nicely by Lellis with some deeply personal expressions of his own. Horta's guitar really opens up his music a lot – and Toninho sings a bit on the record too – usually just a bit of backing vocals, but in the lead on a few numbers, with that sweetly cracking style he first brought to records in the 70s. The album's a real treasure from the Adventure Music label, and a set that really brings together some of the best aspects of the label's work. Titles include "Maybe September", "Dreamwalking", "Summertime", "I Love You", "Let's Face The Music & Dance", and "Fly Me To The Moon".

A really rich new chapter in the music of Otto – an artist we've loved right from the start, but one who's blowing us away all over again with this sweet set! There's a fullness here we've never heard from Otto – not a sound that's slick, just an approach that's more thought out and fully-composed – with some classic elements on the backings that take us back to 60s sounds from Beatles to Motown at times – yet served up in ways that all still retain the freshness of Otto's earlier work. Other sounds are a bit more contemporary, yet still have this feeling of timelessness that really stands out – something we might never have said about Ottos' music before. The electronics are kept to a minimum, and tunes are straightforward and less abstract – in a way we never expected, and which shows Otto to really be a great songwriter after all these years. The set was done with heavy collaborations from producer Pupillo, who co-wrote most tracks – and also features assistance from Kassin and Catatau too. Titles include "The Moon 1111", "Dia Claro", "Ela Flava", "O Que Dira O Mundo", "DP", "Hideus", "Miss Apple E Ze Pilantra", and "Selvagens Olhos Nego".