Lovely work from Marisa Monte – perhaps a bit sweeter than some of her earlier stuff, but pretty darn catchy, and with some excellent production by Arto Lindsay! The tracks have a mellow breezy feel, with a compressed production style that includes a lot of flanged-out guitar, subtle electronics, and warm acoustic touches. As with most of Marisa's albums, the record's filled with work by famous guest stars – like Joao Donato, Arnaldo Antunes, Marc Ribot, Carlinhos Brown, and others. Titles include "O Que Me Importa", "Nao E Facil", "Perdao Voce", "Abololo", "Gotas De Luar", and "Agua Tambem E Mar". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album by Marisa Monte, and the start of a fantastic run of records – really strong work that had Monte emerging as maybe one of the strongest new acts in Brazil at the time! The set is live, which is unusual for a debut – and that also makes for energy that's a bit more raw and spontaneous than you might guess from some of Monte's later, more sophisticated production – especially when the singer hits some sharper edges that almost feel punkish at points. The small group features Roberto Alves on piano – and the set list includes a version of Os Mutantes' "Ando Meio Desligado", plus "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Speak Low", "Comida", "Negro Gato", and a nice remake of "Chocolate", an old Brazilian soul song by Tim Maia. LP, Vinyl record album

A real departure for Marisa Monte – an album of samba tunes done in mostly traditional modes! The style here is often simple and classic – bits of guitar, percussion, cavaquinho, and slight use of keyboards to warm things up a bit – but mostly in a way that allows for the strongest focus on Marisa's vocals, and only a hint of the playfully modern touches of some of her other work. Guest stars include David Byrne, Paulinho Da Viola, Daniel Jobim, and others – but the real focus here is on Marisa, on titles that include "Universo Ao Meu Redor", "Statue Of Liberty", "Tres Letrinhas", "Perdoa Meu Amor", "Cantinho Escondido", "Vai Saber", "Para Mais Ninguem", and "Quatro Paredes". LP, Vinyl record album

Edgey pop work from the enigmatic singer Taiguara – a bit sweet, a bit baroque, and one of those talents who was secretly helping to push Brazilian pop into the next level! The album features Taiguara's hits, and is a bit less experimental than some of his non-single album cuts – but it still is a great representation of the blend of styles he worked in, and some of the dark and psychedelic orchestrations that made his work so great. Titles include "Viagem", "Piano E Viola", "Teu Sonho Nao Acabou", "O Velho E O Novo", "Carne E Osso", and "Modinha". LP, Vinyl record album

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An incredible album from Lo Borges – one of the best singer/songwriters on the Brazilian scene of the 70s! Borges first burst into the spotlight for his work on the Club Da Esquina album by Milton Nascimento – and his work as part of Milton's "corner club" really helped shape the style of the more famous singer. Yet Borges is almost an equally great talent on his own – with a soaring, soulful approach that's every bit as great as the best Nascimento material from the period – and recorded in a wonderfully similar spirit! The sound here is completely sublime right from the start – music that moves us, even if we can't understand the language of the lyrics – like some of the best work by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. There's maybe a bit more guitar than on some of the Milton Nascimento work of the period – but used in a fuzzy way that slides in nicely with some of the jazzy phrasing of the instrumentation – which is delivered with help from key contemporaries who include Beto Guedes, Nelson Angelo, Toninho Horta, and Tenorio Jr. The songwriting is amazing – and titles include "Cancao Postal", "Voce Fica Melhor Assim", "Nao Foi Nada", "Calibre", "Faca Seu Jogo", "Toda Essa Agua", "Pensa Voce", "Como O Machando", and "Aos Baroes". LP, Vinyl record album

Spare, simple work from Djavan – the kind of soulful set that made him one of the most dramatic mainstream talents in Brazil at the start of the 80s – and one of the few of his generation to reach out to a larger global market! The album's got a very Milton Nascimento sort of vibe – Djavan's incredible vocals set over arrangements that are sophisticated, but relatively straightforward too – with bits of jazz and more baroque elements, and occasional touches of fusion as well. Most tracks are originals – beautifully penned by Djavan – and titles include "Faltando Um Pedaco", "A Ilha", "Pedro Brasil", "Seduzir", "Jogral", and "Nvula". CD

An overlooked gem from Joyce – an album that features a fair bit of help from famous friends! The set was recorded at a time when her star had faded a bit on the Brazilian market, but before she was yet to be rediscovered and re-recorded by labels in England and Japan – and despite the presence of some celebrity guest stars, the approach is often a bit mellow, in a way that makes for a very personal sort of sound. Roberto Menescal co-produced the set, and he brings a warm, acoustic feel to most numbers – kind of a gentle setting that lets Joyce relax into duets with artists who include Gal Costa, Emilio Santiago, Sandra Sa, Fatima Guedes, Ney Matogrosso, Clara Moreno, and Gilberto Gil. The sound is never too smooth or commercial – as in some other Joyce sets from the period – and titles include "Outras Mulheres", "Aleida De Ogum", "Misterios", "Da Cor Brasileira", "Stone Washed", "Essa Mulher", and "Minha Gata Rita Lee". CD

A landmark album from Milton Nascimento – not only a set that really marked his growth as a singer, songwriter, and overall musical visionary – but also a record that really showcased the collaborative spirit that would be a part of his music for years to come! The album features Milton with his "corner club" – an elite group of musicians and songwriters from the early days of his career – including greats like Lo Borges and Wagner Tiso – who'd already contributed to his music, but really get a chance to stand in the spotlight here. Borges is particularly fantastic, and shines on the massively beautiful cut "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser", which begins the album – and which is still one of the best Nascimento cuts all these many years later! The sound of the record is impossible to describe adequately – but it's got a fantastically soulful vibe, soaring and joyous, and really expanded through the participation of the other rich talents. The vocals are mixed perfectly, and the songwriting's brilliant all the way through – and titles include "San Vincete", "Lila", "Paisagem Da Janela", "Cravo E Canela", "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser", "Os Povos", "Nada Sera Como Antes", "Um Gosto De Sol", and "O Trem Azul". CD

20 tracks pulled from Joao's excellent samba sides for EMI/Odeon in the 70s – warmly-crafted modern work, done with a nice hint of jazz in some of the arrangements! Titles include "No Na Madeira", "Das 200 Para La", "Gago Apaixonado", "Eu Hein Rosa", "Entenda A Rosa", "Moda Da Barriga", "Batendo A Porta", "Apoteose Ao Samba", and "Vamos Deixar De Intimidade". CD

A very unique little album from Lisa Ono – one that has her taking on a number of themes from American country music, but in a way that mixes plenty of bossa styles into the sound! The "country" here should really be in quotes – as many of the tunes are less strict country numbers than just country-flavored ones from the history of American pop – but they're united nicely here in an approach that really makes tremendous use of Ono's gentle vocals and sprightly guitar, set to slightly jazzy arrangements penned by Ono, Dori Caymmi, and Yoshihiro Arita. The end result is far nicer than you might expect – and titles include "Jambalaya", "Stay All Night", "Gentle On My Mind", "Crazy", "I've Just Seen A Face", "Take Me Home", "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon", "I'm An Old Cowhand", and "Old Fashioned Love/You Are My Sunshine". Japanese version also features 2 bonus tracks – "Morning Sun" and "Fascination (album mix)". CD

Less of a "best of" than some of the other titles in this series – but some fantastic rare work by this excellent tenor sax player! This 20 track set features 12 numbers from a fantastic album that Pixinguinha cut in 1968 with Clementina De Jesus and Joao Da Bahiana, a great little record that was sort of a traditionalist session with a bit of a modern feel. The other 8 tracks have "?" as the copyright date, but they sound to us like they were recorded slightly afterwards, as Pixinquinha's tenor is set in some driving modern samba arrangements – occasionally with a bit of organ. The inclusion of this rare material makes Pixinquinha's set one of the best in this "roots of samba" series – and it's also a wonderful complement to the 2CD retrospective of his work on BMG. Titles include "Samba Do Urubu", "Yao", "Cabide De Molambo", "A Tua Sina", "Batuque Na Cozinha", "Carinhoso", "Estacio, Mangueira", and "Samba Funebre". CD

Dreamy 70s magic from singer Claudette Soares – recorded with arrangements that have a sweeter, sometimes more electric feel than before – and which step out with some grooving touches on the best numbers! The style's almost a bit like some of the best European female work of the time – particularly the kind of numbers you'd find standing out at the start of French or Italian soundtracks. The standout tunes expand the arrangements with some slight Blue Brazil undercurrents that pick up the pace nicely – that cool blend of older Brazilian modes and sweet 70s touches going on at the EMI label at the time. Titles include "Proposta", "Tarde", "Preciso Aprender A So Ser", "Adeus Maria Fulo", "Voce", "Suas Maos", and "Chove Outra Vez". LP, Vinyl record album

A groundbreaking collaboration from the start of the century – the union of three of Brazil's most important artists of the decade before – coming together in a mode that's even deeper than any of their previous albums as solo acts! There's clearly a Tropicalia inspiration taking place here – but there's also rootsier elements that have the trio moving even more firmly away from the mainstream – with genre-blurring modes that are an especially strong revelation as a vehicle for Marisa Monte. Titles include "Carnavalia", "La De Longe", "O Amor E Feio", "Passe Em Casa", "Velha Infancia", and "Ja Sei Namorar". CD

A warm intimate set by these two legendary Brazilian talents – Nana Caymmi on vocals, and the legendary Cesar Camargo Mariano playing some wonderfully mellow keyboards. Mariano plays electric piano on most of the set, and the album's got a laidback quality that brings out the best in Nana – and which avoids some of the overly-dark styles that can sometimes bog down other albums from the time. Great stuff overall – with tracks that include "Fruta Boa", "Voz E Suor", "Velho Piano", "Doce Presenca", and "Isso E Aquilo". CD

An assortment of later work from samba diva Clementina De Jesus – pulled from an assortment of EMI/Odeon sessions from the mid 60s and 1970s. The set features 20 tracks in all, and titles include "Embala Deu", "Marinheiro So", "Cocoroco", "Madrugada", "Sonho Meu", "Moro Na Roca", "Olhar Assim", "Lapa", "Papel Reclame", "Olhos De Azeviche", and "Tava Dormindo". CD

Sweet 70s grooving from Brazilian singer Eva – a bit of soul, a bit of easy, all styled together nicely by orchestrations from the magical maestro Gaya! Gaya's work here is similar to his best backings for other artists in the Blue Brazil generation – a mix of American pop, post-bossa instrumentation, and in this case, some very slight electric touches – kind of hipping up the tunes a bit with some nice keyboards! The album's got a really nice version of "Moon River" that skips along at a nice pace – plus some great originals that offer a strong update to the sound of other Brazilian pop/post-bossa singers, like Doris Monteiro or Claudette Soares. Titles include "O Homem Do Tempo", "Vinte Leguas", "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro", "Olha Eu Aqui Oh Oh Oh", "Talisma", and Sonho Lindo". CD

A subtle album of magical beauty from Egberto Gismonti – and a lesser known record that features him mostly in a solo piano mode. The work's still quite lively, though – filled with wonderful little touches and whimsical moments that often dip down into more somber playing – and the whole thing's really one of Gismonti's best in such a format! Titles include "Cigana", "Karate", "Loro", "Palhaco", and "Baiao Malandro". CD

Stunning early work from Egberto Gismonti – a really complex little record, and quite different than some of his better-known work as a spare acoustic soloist! Gismonti here is at the helm of a rich array of sounds – at one level, a soulful approach to MPB that rivals the best of Milton Nascimento in the 70s – but at another, filled with sharp changes and complicated arrangements that really move past any easy labels! There's a sense of surprise that really keeps things striking throughout – an avant piano line here, full soaring vocal there, funky electro riff the next moment, and a sensitive jazz solo at another point – always interwoven in ways that make complete sense – even amidst the rich array of sounds and colors. Titles include "Raga", "Baiao Malandro", "Cafe", "Educao Sentimental", "Bodas De Prata", "Critiana", and "As Primaveras". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing tribute not just to the rich imagination of the young Egberto Gismonti – but also to the vivid sound of Brazilian music in the 70s! The album leaps past any easy definitions – as bits of jazz, MPB, serious scoring, folkloric styles, and other elements come into play – often in the space of a single song – and Gismonti's own keyboards and guitar are mixed with really collaborative efforts from Joyce, Danilo Caymmi, Marcio Montarroyos, and other leading lights of the Brazilian underground at the time! The tunes are quite visionary – in a way that's as sublime as Gismonti's legendary 1973 album – and production is other-worldly, at a level that few Anglo albums could hope to match at the time. Titles include the classic "Cafe" – plus Baiao Do Acordar", "Danca Das Cabecas", "Carmo", "Polichinelo", "Trem Noturno", and "Ano Zero". LP, Vinyl record album

Egberto's working here with a lot of electric keyboards – but he's lost none of his fire and power! The range of compositions is amazing – from spare mellow beautiful numbers, to driving open-ended tracks that have a free improvisational quality to them – and backing is by the Academia De Dancas group, which features work by Luiz Alves, Paulo Moura, Zeca Assumpcao, and Robertinho Silva. Titles include "Bela Palomera", "7 Aneis", "Feixe De Luz", "For All", "Dor De Amor", "Scherzo Mecanico", and "Forrobodo". LP, Vinyl record album

The rare second album by the Jongo Trio – a fantastic bossa group who mixed together vocals and keyboards with stunning magic! The trio's approach is similar to that of the more famous Tamba Trio – in that the three members groove on keyboards, bass, and percussion – while also harmonizing vocals in a soaring, airy style that really adds a lot to the set. This album's got the group using a bit of organ and electric piano in addition to their usual acoustic keys – making for a bossa style that's slightly electrified, with great results on the album's overall sound. The set includes a really great uptempo version of "Aguas De Marco", plus the tracks "Alo Feveiro", "Quem Vem La", "Cavaleiro De Aruanda", "Sandalia De Prata", "Bate Barriga", "Feitinha P'Ro Poeta", and "Duas Contas". CD

A beautiful album by Ivan Lins – truly one of his greatest records, and a real gem that stands out as one of the best in his already-excellent catalog! The set has Ivan stepping out strongly from his sound of the 70s – working with Gilson Peranzzetta in a set of arrangements that have touches of jazz and a deeply expressive soul that matches Lins' growing vocal confidence wonderfully. Lins' voice is in top form, and the material is extremely strong (in fact, most of the songs are so good, and so catchy, that we've hardly noticed that they weren't in English!) Titles include "Vira", "Arlequim Desconhecido", "Barco Fantasma", "Novo Tempo", and "Coracao Vagabundo". CD

Reissue of a 60s album that compiles earlier 78rpm recordings by one of Brazil's first true international stars! Titles include "Adeus Batucada", "Polichenelo", "Voltei Pro Morro", "Uva De Caminhao", "Rescenseamento", "O Samba E O Tango", "Cabaret No Morro", and "Minha Terra Tem Palmeiras". CD

Wonderful work from Marisa Monte – and a set that may well be the greatest record we've heard from her in years! There's a freshness here that grabs us right away – with the lure we felt when first hearing Monte's music many years ago, but cast here in a completely different style, too – more acoustic overall, yet with these beautifully subtle touches in the background – light orchestrations that slide nicely amidst the core small combo instrumentation – all topped with some of Marisa's most heartfelt lyrics in years. The album's got some great contributions from Dadi, who's definitely Monte's other half on the project – plus hip musical contributions from an array that includes Vinicius Cantuaria, Miguel Atwood Ferguson, Marty Erlich, Bernie Worrell, and other surprising guests. Monte often plays ukulele, which has a cool sound that punctuates the record nicely – and titles include "Ainda Bem", "Verdade Uma Ilusao", "Lencinho Querido", "Descalco No Parque", "Depois", and "O Que Voce Quer Saber De Verdade". CD

One of Milton Nascimento's darker LPs, with a great set of tracks that have a deep rock feel to them, yet which maintain all of the soulful spirit that was in Nascimento's earlier recordings. Nascimento's working here with a great set of musicians that include some of Brazil's most farthest-reaching jazz players of the 70s – Nelson Angelo, Toninho Horta, Paulo Moura, Wagner Tiso, and Nana Vasconcelos – all of whom come together beautifully in baroque arrangements with a complicated, yet honest feel. Originally released as an album, plus a single, this remastered CD includes all the original tracks – with titles that include "Milagre Dos Peixes", "Pablo", "A Chamda", "Os Escravos De Jo", and "Sacramento". CD

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A very cool Brazilian harmony group – serving up versions of tunes by Marcos Valle, Minton Nascimento, Roberto Carlos, Geraldo Vandre, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

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A groundbreaking collaboration from the start of the century – the union of three of Brazil's most important artists of the decade before – coming together in a mode that's even deeper than any of their previous albums as solo acts! There's clearly a Tropicalia inspiration taking place here – but there's also rootsier elements that have the trio moving even more firmly away from the mainstream – with genre-blurring modes that are an especially strong revelation as a vehicle for Marisa Monte. Titles include "Carnavalia", "La De Longe", "O Amor E Feio", "Passe Em Casa", "Velha Infancia", and "Ja Sei Namorar". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful set of duets from 60s samba stars Elizeth Cardoso and Ciro Monteiro – released in collaboration with the Bossaudade TV show! The sound here is light and lively – with backing from Caculinha and his combo, who mix together acoustic samba rhythms with a nice touch of electric organ – for a sound that's got some nice Walter Wanderley elements, but still retains a strong samba groove, with plenty of choppy bandolim in the arrangements. Elizeth and Ciro duet on a number of tracks – including a few longer "pout-pourri" medleys, and they each sing a few numbers on their own as well. Titles include "Melancolia", "Franqueza", "Beija-Me", "Se Acaso Voce Chegasse", and "Tem Que Rebolar". CD

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