Brazil — CDs  

An expanded version of this classic – with 5 more bonus tracks, 4 of which were arranged by Ennio Morricone! The core album is incredible 70s work from the lovely Astrud Gilberto – a rare effort for the CTI label that has her teaming up with arranger Eumir Deodato and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine – all in a groove that's totally different than most of her earlier work! Astrud's breathy vocals are still wonderfully intact – but they're given a more spacious approach in the arrangements – strings mixes with rolling basslines, soaring keyboards, and stone cold tenor from Stanley – in a groove that's simply wonderful, and which takes off in a whole new direction than before! Other players include Airto, Sivuca, Hubert Laws, and Dom Um Romao – and tracks include classic versions of "Ponteio", "Vera Cruz", and "Zazueira" that are all some of the most grooving takes on the tunes ever – plus "Historia De Amor", "Where There's A Heartache", "Brazilian Tapestry", and "Wanting Things". Bonus tracks include "If Not For You", "Acercendome A Ti", "Argomenti", "En Tu Piel", and "Un Donna Che Ti Ama".

A wonderful album of Joao Gilberto's early bossa tracks from Brazil – loaded up here with various numbers from other great Brazilian stars! The original one of the first few that he ever recorded, and it's a masterpiece of understatement, recorded with arrangements by a young Antonio Carlos Jobim, and a soaring bossa sound that would soon make history. Tracks include "Discussao", "O Pato", "Outra Vez", "Doralice", and "Samba De Uma Nota So", "Se E Tarde", "Corcovado", "So Em Teus Bracos" and more. This version in El UK fills out the CD with covers of some of these numbers and many more by Sergio Mendes, Sylvia Telles, Walter Wanderly, Silvio Silveira, Carlos Lyra and others. 35 tracks in all!

Incredibly groovy work from Brazilian organist Ed Lincoln – a quick-fingered player on the Hammond with a talent to rival the skills of Walter Wanderley! Like Wanderley, Lincoln worked in Brazil during the early bossa years – and had a great ear for mixing up samba and bossa rhythms with organ-driven jazz – an approach that was groundbreaking at the time, and still sounds pretty darn amazing all these many years later – especially as it's one approach to the instrument that most American players have never been able to match! The organ lines are nice and clean, and often laid out over fast-moving percussion with lots of deep acoustic elements – all the charm and power of samba and bossa rhythms at their best, made even better by jazzy riffs on the keyboard. This amazing set brings together 6 vintage albums by Ed – all with original cover art and great mastering – most presented here on CD for the first time ever! The 6CD set features the records Orgao Espetacular (1960), Ed Linoln Seu Piano E Seu Orgao (1961), Album No 2 (1962), Ed Lincoln Seu Piano E Seu Orgao (1963), A Volta (1964), and Ed Lincoln (1966).

A cool contemporary set from Brazil – one that's got a great mix of folksy roots and inventive production – the latter of which comes from some great help in the studio by Kassin! Kassin co-produced the recorded with singer Vitor Patalano – whom himself already has a pretty compelling musical vision – one that almost echoes the hippest aspects of the late 60s/early 70s UK scene on labels like Harvest or Decca – yet which also comes across with a leaner, more personal feel too – one that's amplified strongly by Kassin's efforts. The record's a gem through and through – the sort that might have broke big, had it come out on a hipster label in the US – but even better as a Brazilian secret (at least for now!) Lyrics are all in English – and titles include "Cordillera Girl", "Not The Time", "Seagulls", "Death Cheating Tuna Cowboys", "Butcher The Savior", "We Want Your Genes", and "The Core".

Groovy cats from 60s Brazil – a hip rocking quartet who clearly draw influences both from mod London and the Sunset Strip scene – but who also manage to make things come out in a style that's all their own! Guitar is at the lead on most of these tracks – often played with a twang that's simply wonderful, and captured with echoey production that also does wonders for the group's groovy rhythms and hip Hammond lines. Organ is never too out front, but instead burns in the background to let the guitar really take fire – and titles include "Esqueca", "Day Tripper", "Ciranda Do Le Le Le No 2", "Tchinf", "The More I See You", "Cosy", and "Recordando Carnaval".

A very unique album by Sergio Mendes – recorded in LA in the years before his Brasil 66 albums for A&M – but with a sound that clearly shows him going for the new bossa approach! The album's got some lovely vocals by Wanda De Sah, plus occasional guitar work by Rosinha De Valenca – and backing is by Sergio's Trio, riffing away in a very tight jazzy groove that's right up there with the best of their early albums. Bud Shank also guests on a few tracks with some tasty alto sax solos – and titles include "Let Me", "Consolacao", "Tristeza Em Mim", "Muito A Vontade", "Reza", "Berimbau", and "Aquarius".

A lost bossa classic from Wanda De Sah – aka Wanda Sa, the wife of Edu Lobo, and a singer who worked with Sergio Mendes in his pre-Brasil 66 days! The album's got a wonderfully laidback feel – languid, yet jazzy, with the feel of some of Astrud Gilberto's best work on Verve, yet with vocals that are possibly better – thanks to Wanda's pedigree in Brazilian pop. Recordings were done in California, not Rio – and arrangements are handled by the great Jack Marshall – who's got a strong ear for keeping things interesting with a mix of strings, Latin rhythms, and Capitol pop shadings. Titles include "Aqua De Beber", "Ho Ba La La", "Sweet Happy Life", "The Dreamer", and a great version of "Aruanda".