Featuring Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, John Lewis, Stan Levey, JJ Johnson, Lalo Schifrin, Art Davis, Candido Camero, Chick Lampkin, Paul Gonsalves, Coleman Hawkins, Wynton Kelly, Wendell Marshall and JC Heard. (Jazz, Brazil) CD

One of the moodiest Verve albums from Astrud Gilberto – a set that has some surprising arrangements by Gil Evans – working here on one of his few 60s dates with a singer! Astrud's blue-tinged vocals work perfectly with Evans' backdrops – and Al Cohn also takes over the helm on two of the album's tracks, but still does a very good job of keeping the groove. There's a nice mix of sadness and lightness in the set – and titles include a wonderful version of "Berimbau" that actually features berimbau playing by Dom Um Romao, a great take on "El Preciso Aprender A Ser So" with English lyrics, and the titles "Bim Bom", "Lugar Bonito", "Frevo", and "Once Upon A Summertime". CD

A beautiful recent live recording from bossa legend Joao Gilberto – the kind that shows that he's still very much in fine fine form! The set was recorded in Tokyo, and features Joao on voice and guitar – with no other instrumentation at all – replicating the feel of some of his sparest classic work, with a style and approach that seems even better with age. There's a waning sadness to the whole set that's really compelling – the weight of years that somehow makes classic tunes sound even more meaningful than before! 15 tracks in all – with titles that include "Aos Pes Da Cruz", "Bolinha De Papel", "Louco", "Pra Que Discutir Com Madame", "Doralice", "Este Seu Olhar", and "Preconceito". CD

An assortment of tracks recorded by Jobim during his classic years – featuring an assortment of "convidados", or guests, that rank among some of the best Brazilian artists of the time! The set brings together work from many corners of Jobim's work for Universal, Philips, and Verve – and titles include "Chovendo Na Roseira" and "Aguas De Marco", done with Elis Regina; "Pra Dizer Adeus" and "Luiza", done with Edu Lobo; "Por Toda Minha Vida" and "A Felicidade", done with Nelson Riddle; "Saudade da Bahia" done with Dorival Caymmi; and "Tema De Amor Por Gabriela" done with Gal Costa. CD

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One of the more ambitious projects put together by Milton Nascimento – a soaring work that takes the previous sense of majesty in his music even further than before! The tracks were all arranged and directed by Milton, with writing help from Pedro Casaldaliga and Petro Tierra – on titles that include "Em Nome Do Deus", "Offertorio", "Rito Da Paz", "O Senhor E Santo", and "Louvacao A Mariama". CD

Brazilian "greatest hits" comp of Caetano's work, with a majority of material from the late 70's and early 80's, but also with a few cuts from the late 60's Tropicalia years. Every cut's a winner, though – with the high high level of imagination that you'd expect from Caetano! Tracks include "Coisa Mais Linda", "Muito", "Menino Do Rio", "Superbacana", "Eclips Oculto", and "Soy Loco Por Ti, America". CD

One of our favorite Walter Wanderley albums ever – and a record that moves past the more familiar bossa trio style used on his hits for Verve, into groovier new territory with added players who include Dom Um Romao on drums and Marcos Valle on guitar! And not only is the lineup expanded, but the styles are too – as Wanderley moves away from the straighter bossa and samba jazz of his roots, into the world of more unusual, more complicated rhythms that were showing up in the Brazilian scene at the end of the 60s. Marcos Valle's contribution is felt strongly here – as the album includes a fantastic instrumental take on his classic "Crickets Sing For Anamaria" (aka "Os Grilos") – plus other Valle compositions that include "Ainda Mais Lindo", "Batucada", and "E Preciso Cantar". Other tracks include "Wave", "So What's New", and "O Barquinho". CD

One of the darkest albums ever recorded by Astrud Gilberto – her 60s last session for Verve Records, and a batch of beautifully moody tunes throughout! Arrangements are by Albert Gorgoni, who'd handled Gilberto's previous September 69 album – but the style here is a bit mellower, a bit sadder – touched with more adult themes of love, life, and loss – and very much in keeping with Astrud's tear-stained image on the cover! There's a sound here that almost mixes Gilberto's earlier bossa with the more baroque modes of Scott Walker at the end of the 60s – and as with Scott Walker's classic solo sets, the album shows a side of Astrud's talents that we never would have expected a few years earlier! Titles include "Wailing Of The Willow", "Where's The Love", "Wee Small Hours", "If", "Without Him", "Trains & Boats & Planes", "The Sea Is My Soil", and "Didn't We?". CD

One of the grooviest records ever from the lovely Astrud Gilberto – a session that beautifully mixes her usual bossa nova with bits of Sunshine Pop and other hip late 60s grooves – all in a mode that really takes off a lot more than other Gilberto albums on Verve! The style here is really wonderful – upbeat, soaring, and joyous on most of the best numbers – a real transformation of Astrud's usual groove, and a great departure from too familiar bossa nova material. The record's been a little bit lost to the shifting sands of time – possibly because it's not as iconic as it might be – but we totally love it, and really consider it one of Gilberto's best moments ever in the studio. Arrangements are by Albert Gorgoni – and titles include a fantastic long jamming version of the track "Beginnings" that sounds completely different from the Chicago hit, and which is a stunning dancefloor groover! The album also includes an English version of "Canto De Osshana" called "Let's Go", plus a groovy uptempo version of the Bee Gee's "Holiday", and the great cut "Love Is Stronger Than We" from the soundtrack to A Man & A Woman. Other tracks include "Think Of Rain", "A Million Miles Away Behind The Door", "Don't Leave Me Baby", and "Summer Sweet (part 1, part 2 to be continued)". CD

Breezy bossa nova – Hollywood 60s style! The album's one of the best cut for Capitol by guitarist Laurindo Almeida – and has a sweet groovy little style that features Laurindo's lovely guitar work over some lightly dancing small combo backings that include flute, harmonica, organ, percussion, and even a bit of whistling on a few tracks! The vibe's very much in the best Verve/Impulse takes on the bossa – done with a clear California influence, which keeps things cool and breezy – and which also pushes Almeida past his sometimes-staid style on guitar. Two cuts also feature some great vocals by Irene Kral – and titles include "Twilight In Rio", "Old Guitaron", "Sarah's Samba", "Izabella", "Winter Moon", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Choro For People In Love". (Now Sound, Brazil) CD

Breezy bossa nova – Hollywood 60s style! The album's one of the best cut for Capitol by guitarist Laurindo Almeida – and has a sweet groovy little style that features Laurindo's lovely guitar work over some lightly dancing small combo backings that include flute, harmonica, organ, percussion, and even a bit of whistling on a few tracks! The vibe's very much in the best Verve/Impulse takes on the bossa – done with a clear California influence, which keeps things cool and breezy – and which also pushes Almeida past his sometimes-staid style on guitar. Two cuts also feature some great vocals by Irene Kral – and titles include "Twilight In Rio", "Old Guitaron", "Sarah's Samba", "Izabella", "Winter Moon", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Choro For People In Love". (Now Sound, Brazil) CD