One of the more obscure Brazilian harmony bossa albums of the 60s – yet a set that we'd put right up there next to our favorite work from Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 – and maybe some of the even groovier acts recording down in Brazil! Mario Castro Neves is best known as a piano player and arranger – and he brings a jazzy vibe to this set, working with a core trio that features Normando on drums and Novelli on bass – while also opening the door to work from female singers Thais and Biba, who soar together in a breezy duet mode – very Brasil 66, but leaner and groovier too – with some scatting qualities that also show an influence from European jazz! There's a sparkling sound here that's strongly influenced by bossa, but which also has some sunnier 60s touches too – and Mario's arranging skills are at an all-time high on the lightly dancing rhythms of the tunes. Titles include "Candomble", "Nana", "E Nada Mais", "Keep Talking", "Once More", "Ta Por Fora", and "Morte De Um Deus De Sal". CD

One of the coolest records ever cut by Ze Rodrix, as you might guess from the image on the cover – very different than some of his more staid recordings on the Brazilian scene, and instead a very dynamic soundtrack that's full of funky moments! Ze's clearly got the bug of the American and European scenes of the period, but he's not aping Italian cop/crime or US blacksploitation – as his use of funky elements comes across in all these different ways, with plenty of mad rhythms, unusual arrangements, offbeat production, and even a strange sense of pacing that makes the whole record a treasure trove of surprise delights! There's some especially great use of keyboards, but that's just the tip of the iceberg – and titles include "Motoqueiros", "Esconderijo", "Rhumba", "Tema De Amor", "Esquadrao Da Morte", and "Chorinho Pro Tio". CD

Two rare Argentine albums from Vera Sienra – back to back on a single CD, with great notes too! Nuestra Soledad is a tremendous debut, and unlike anything that we can easily put into words – fado in style, but carried off in a way that's more bossa nova overall – yet done with a fuller sense of feeling that almost echoes European singers of the decade before! Vera's vocals are incredibly deep – not baritone, but filled with a sense of melancholy that hardly matches the image on the front cover – and the arrangements and guitar are done by Eduardo Mateo, who you might know from other excellent work of this nature from the Buenos Aires scene. Titles include "La Flor", "Si Tiene Final", "Aquel", "El Caminante", "Calle Triste", and "Junto Al Cristal". Vera is a slightly different album from a few years later – a record with some fuller backings, and an even more emotive approach overall – yet still done with that amazing vocal approach, and nicely restrained in ways that really underscore the sense of sadness in the tunes. Titles include "Uno Mas", "No Me Dejes Ir", "Cancio Para El Tiempo", "La Gaviota", "Y Porque Nos Conocimos", and "La Inconformidad". CD

A fantastically soulful album from Jorge Ben – one of his greatest records ever, and a key part of Brazilian music in the 70s! The album marks an earthier shift for Jorge – a sound that's still rooted in the samba influences of the 60s, but which also takes on a bit more soul at the bottom – thanks to rhythmic contributions from Trio Mocoto, who work here famously to help Ben shape the overall feel of the set! There's still a bit of larger orchestrations at moments, but these are used sparingly just to sweeten the sound – leaving the main force of the music to come from Jorge's guitar, and the cuica, percussion, and tamborim of the trio. The vocals are wonderful too – slightly raspy, and with a bit more feeling than we ever remember Jorge having on record – sometimes a bit intimate, yet always with an undeniable presence throughout. One of those records that still sends chills up our spines, year after year – with tracks that include "Oba La Vem Ela", "Ze Canjica", "Pulo Pulo", "Apareceu Aparecida", "Terezinha", "Mulher Brasileira", "Forca Bruta", "O Telefone Tocou Novamente", and "Charles Junior". CD

Beautiful work from Joyce – possibly her best album in years! The lovely Brazilian singer/guitarist blows away all the newcomers in the modern bossa field – and shows the world that she's still one of the strongest talents of her generation. The album's got a stronger jazz component than some of her other recent albums, quite driving, in the mode of classic albums like Agua E Luz and Feminina – and Joyce's voice, guitar, and songwriting skills are top-notch all the way! An instant classic – one that will have you shelving all your faked-out remixed, Nu Brazil albums for the real thing! Titles include "Bota De Sete Leguas", "Azul Bahia", "Forcas D'Alma", "Na Casa Do Villa", "Quatro Elementos", "The Band On The Wall", and "Samba Da Silvia". CD