Brazil — All Formats  

A sweet overview of work from the second stretch of the career of Gilberto Gil – and a set that's worth it alone for two of the five albums in the package! The set begins with Refazenda and Refavela – both fantastically funky albums that have Gilberto Gil hitting a soulful style that's very different than before – a mode that's more Jorge Ben than any of Gil's previous work – yet still with some of the sharper, more creative edges that always made him one of the leading lights of 70s MPB! Realce manages to capture a lot of the warmth and imagination of Gil's earlier work. The production's a little smooth in parts, but Gil's beautiful voice and guitar playing are still right out front, especially in some of the more stripped-down tracks. Raca Humana is pretty compelling stuff – almost a new wave album of sorts, recorded with lots of tight guitar work by producer Liminha, and plenty of catchy tunes that sparkle like some lost gems from early 80s radio. And Kayangandaya is a real surprise – an album of reggae tracks, mostly by Bob Marley, recorded in Kingston at the Tuff Gong Studios, with help from the Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Sly & Robbie, and others. The record's actually pretty nice – a good blend of the dub-heavy sounds of Jamaica, with some of the rougher soul stylings that Gil was crafting in earlier years – a combination that shouldn't work, but which does nicely.

A one of a kind record that still sparkles as brightly today as it did back in the late 60s – an amazing collaboration between Brazilian vocalist Elis Regina and Scandinavian jazzman Toots Thielemans – done in a style that easily makes it one of the best records ever from both artists! Elis is at the height of her jazzy late 60s powers here – working in a soaring, breezy sort of style – but one with a lot more depth and soul than some of her contemporaries. She brings a great deal of feeling to the tunes, but always without doing too much – and this leaves plenty of space for Toots to add his touches – on harmonica, guitar, and even a bit of whistling – which really sits in nicely with the grooves. The production and overall sound is sublime – one of those never matched again sort of studio dates – and titles include great versions of "Canto De Ossanha", "Wave", "Voce", "Wilsamba", "Five For Elis", "Volta", and "O Sonho".

Great guitar from Luiz Bonfa – two albums that have the bossa legend moving way past his roots! Introspection has Bonfa recording in New York – a superb solo guitar session that has him playing the instrument as a "miniature orchestra", shading in a rich array of colors, tones, and harmonic spaces through his expert manipulation of the strings. There's still a bit of his earlier bossa phrasing in the record – but it mostly shows Bonfa as a richly talented individual on his instrument, moving past simple instrumental modes into virtuoso territory! Titles include "Adventure In Space", "Reflections", "Enchanted Mirror", "Concerto For Guitar", and "Rain". New Face Of Luiz Bonfa is a wickedly wonderful record from Luiz Bonfa – one that has his bossa-inflected guitar style supported by larger arrangements by Marty Manning. The feel is kind of bossa meets 60s easy meets early CTI – as Manning's work reminds us a lot of the larger orchestrations penned by Don Sebesky or Claus Ogerman at the end of the 60s, a perfect foil for the tighter guitar work of Bonfa – making the album one of the best showcases of his style from the time! Tracks include "Helicopter 274", "Window Girl", "Peixe Bom", "Salvador", and "Africana" – and the record sounds like a lost 70s Italian soundtrack!