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A very groovy record with a very fitting title -- especially once you hear the lyrics of the tunes! The Girls From Bahia are actually the Quarteto Em Cy -- one of the best harmony groups of the bossa era, and famous for classic recordings on the Elenco label -- but working here in a rare American context that has them singing in English with heavily accented voices! The overall setting's quite similar to their Brazilian classics -- gentle bossa backings arranged by Oscar Castro Neves, who brings an airy feel to the set -- and it's great to hear the girls singing here in English, in ways that link back to the older harmony groups that clearly inspired them. The whole thing's incredibly charming, and titles include "Surfing In Rio", "Tup A Tup", "The Face I Love", "Canto De Ossanha", "Image", "Useless Landscape", "Tears", "Voce", and "Pardon My English".

A sublime album by this lovely Brazilian quartet of female singers -- arguably their best album ever! The album features arrangements by Edu Lobo, Luiz Eca, and other baroque jazzy talents -- perfectly suited to take the bossa harmony sound of the Quarteto Em Cy into more sophisticated territory during the 70s. Proof of that is the landmark track "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser", their amazing take on the Milton Nascimento classic -- and other great tracks include "Quando O Carnaval Chegar", "Inclensa", "Cantoria", "Canto De Oba", and "Zanga, Zangada".

A rare American session from the Quarteto Em Cy -- working here under the name of The Girls From Bahia, and singing in English as well as Portuguese! The album's got a sound that's quite similar to the group's classic 60s Brazilian records on Elenco -- thanks to bossa-heavy backings from Oscar Castro Neves -- and even when singing in a second language, the girls do a really great job of hitting the sweetest, warmest harmony notes they can -- that trademark vocal brilliance that made them such a huge act back in Brazil! Sonny Burke produced, but he clearly gives plenty of space to Oscar -- as the album's got little of his usual Warner touches -- and instead shows that when you've got the right talent in the studio, you can do a pretty good job of recording bossa in the US. Titles include "Berimbau", "Tem Mais Samba", "Edmundo (In The Mood)", "Lai Ladaia", Morrer De Amor", "Sunny Side Of The Street", "Road To Nowhere", "Old Piano Roll Blues", "The Day It Rained", "E Nada Mais", "Manhattan", "Dindi", and "A Banda (Parade)".

One of the greatest collections of work we've ever seen from Quarteto Em Cy -- a CD that features their entire Som Definitivo album from 1964, plus 18 more bonus tracks pulled from two other albums! Som Definitivo is an incredible album -- one in which the Brazilian female harmony quartet meets up with their male counterparts, the Tamba Trio! The gals have most of the vocals on this set, but backings are in the sublimely modern mode that the Tamba combo was using at the time, set to arrangements by Luiz Eca, the group's pianist -- and soaring with a great blend of jazz and bossa elements! The whole thing's a landmark in the Brazilian scene of the time -- with edges that are dark and sweet at the same time -- and a depth of sound that's really tremendous. Titles include "O Mar E Meu Chao", "Se Voce Pensar", "Imagem", "Zambi", "Arrastao", and "Vim Da Bahia". Bonus tracks on the set are pulled from the 1964 and 1966 albums titled Quarteto Em Cy -- also issued on Elenco -- and titles include "O Trem", "Barravento", "Nana", "Vida Ruim", "Mascarada", "Resolucao", "Caminho Do Mar", "Canto De Ossanha", "Samba Torto", "Ate Londres", and "Pedro Pedreiro".

Lovely work from this heavenly Brazilian vocal group -- one of their rarest albums ever, and a treat all the way through! The album is from that perfect time in the group's career -- a point when they were blending jazz harmonies and bossa into a uniquely sweet sound that's never been matched by other Brazilian vocalists -- including some of the male harmony groups who were their competition at the time! There's a somewhat rootsier feel to some of the backings here than on the girls' other albums -- sounds that are sometimes more samba than bossa, but which are always topped by wonderfully sweet vocals. The tunes are often somewhat unfamiliar -- penned by Sidney Miller, Billy Blanco, and others -- further making the album a gem . Titles include "Marre De Cy", "Samba Da Lagoa", "Mundo Melhor", "Sao Salvador", and "O Circo".

A double-length collection of genius from the legendary Baden Powell -- 2 of his best 60s albums, back to back on one CD! First up is Os Afro Sambas -- a record that completely transformed the sound of Baden Powell's music, and showed the world he had much deeper talents than just simple bossa guitar! The session was done in collaboration with poet Vinicius De Moraes, with additional vocals from Quarteto Em Cy -- and the sound is a completely captivating blend of rootsy percussion, airy guitar, and poetic vocals -- held together with a unique magic that was hardly ever duplicated again! There's a genius here that's hard to peg, but which is apparent from the very first note -- and equal credit should possibly also be given to producer Roberto Quartin, who managed to make the whole thing happen with an echoey brilliance that's almost as important as the music itself. Titles include the original version of "Canto De Ossanha", plus "Tempo de Amor", "Tristeza E Solidao", "Lamento De Exu", "Bocoche", and "Canto De Xango". (Note: there is a slight dip in sound on the first minute or so of the record -- and this is a tragic flaw in the original mastering, and not in this pressing.) A Vontade is killer early bossa by Baden Powell -- a jazzy little gem that still shines brightly after all these years! This early album is a stripped-down batch of tunes that features Baden on acoustic guitar, backed by a small percussion combo that really keeps things lively -- plus some additional flute that dances beautifully along with the grooves! The tunes are at once bright and breezy, but also have a darkness that makes Baden's tunes different from some of the other bossa nova guitar work of the era -- a spooky specter of deeper feelings that pushes the album past the simple space of instrumental musings. All the signs of his later greatness are firmly planted, even at this young stage -- as you'll hear on the album's list of titles that include "O Astronauta", "Candomble", "Samba Do Aviao", "Sorongaio", and "Conversa De Poeta".

Features work by Quarteto Em Cy, Joao Bosco, Nara Leao, Emilio Santiago, Leny Andrade, Carlos Lyra, and others.

Way more than just a standard bossa nova compilation -- and instead, an overstuffed collection of rare gems from the 60s, including a number of tracks appearing here for the first time ever on CD! The set was put together by Ruy Castro -- author of THE book on bossa nova -- and Castro's careful touch here takes the album way past the hits and into some of the deeper, more sublime numbers from the glory days of bossa nova. Plus, although the set's heavily focused on Brazilian numbers, it also features a few key tracks from the US and Europe -- showing the ever-widening influence of the genre as the 60s wore on! 29 tracks in all, and a delight throughout -- with titles that inlude "Minha Saudade" by Joao Donato, "Menina Feia" by Lucio Alves, "The Blues Walk" by Os Cobras, "Vou Te Contar" and "Ve" by Os Cariocas, "Cancao Que Morre No Ar" by Carlos Lyra, "Apelo" by Quarteto Em Cy, "Tem Do" by Rio 65 Trio, "E Nada Mais" by Os Gatos, "O Amor Que Acabou" by Maysa, "Nega Dina" by Nara Leao, "Voce" by Dick Farney & Norma Bengell, "Coisa No 8" by Moacir Santos, and "Ceu E Mar" by Joyce & Johnny Alf.

A host of famous compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius De Moraes -- presented here in a set of recordings that spans the space of decades! Many of the numbers come from the holdings of RCA Brazil -- home to some great lesser-known treasures over the years, most of which were never issued properly in the US -- and many of which have disappeared from the reissue market. There's a warm glow here in both the modern and older numbers -- and titles include "So Danco Samba" by Tamba Trio, "Chora Coracao" by Maria Creuza, "Garota De Ipanema" by Lisa Ono with Joao Donato, "Janelas Abertas" by Gal Costa, "Modinha" by New York Voices, "Por Toda A Minha Vida" by Quarteto Em Cy, "A Felicidade" by Maria Creuza, "O Morro Nao Tem Vez" by Helio Celso, "Agua De Beber" by Aquarius Y Luiz Antonio, "Se Todos Fossem Iguais A Voce" by Be Happy, and "Olha Maria" by Gil Goldstein.

Bossa Nova singers from both sides of the equator -- in a groovy collection of work recorded both in Brazil and the US! The set's a wonderfully done exploration of the true range of bossa talents in the 60s -- and it features both stars from the Brazilian scene, plus other artists who managed to cross over to US audiences, and got a chance to record for labels like Verve and A&M -- all presented without cliche, and without too many over-heard bossa standards -- a really fresh set overall, and very much up to the high level we expect from the Jazzclub series! Titles include "Oba La La" by Jorge Ben, "Berimbau" by Nara Leao, "Mas Que Nada" by Luiz Henrique, "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce" by Elis Regina, "Fim De Noite" by Chico Feitosa, "Samba Da Pergunta" by Marcia, "Agua De Beber" by Quarteto Em Cy & Tamba Trio, "O Barquinho" by Lucio Alves, "Bim Bom" by Astrud Gilberto, "Bloco Do Eu Sozinho" by Joyce, "Reza" by Elis Regina & Tamba Trio, "The Face I Love" by Marcos Valle, and "Voce" by Dick Farney & Norma Bengell.

A simply groooooovy collection of rare bossa tunes! The set goes farther than the first volume in the series -- dipping into a wide range of material that includes Brazilian albums from the 60s, but also some more obscure American and European sources, which gives the set a slightly expanded groove that's very fresh! Titles include "A Child Runs Free" by Fred Johnson, "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" by Quarteto Em Cy, "Ye Me Le" by The Gimmicks, "Tudo De Voce" by Wilson Simonal, "Fio Maravilha" by Tania Maria, "Mad About The Boy" by Cybil Shepard, "Zozoi" by France Gall & Cesar Camargo Mariano, "A Vontade Mesmo" by Raulzinho, "Freio Aerodinamico" by Os Tres Morais, "Mar Azul" by Som Imaginario, "Bahia Bossa Nova" by Bernard Lubat, "Vai Vai" by Jean Pierre Sabar, "Spooky" by Som Tes, and "Chove Chuva" by Nelsinho.

A stunning lost bossa nova soundtrack! The score was penned for the 1967 film Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema), and although you've heard some of the tracks before in other versions, the overall album is very nice -- and is a wonderful tribute to the early days of bossa nova! Jobim and Vinicius perform, as well as Baden Powell, Tamba Trio, Nara Leao, Elis Regina, Ronnie Von, Chico Buarque, and Quarteto Em Cy -- and titles include "Por Voce", "Chorino", "Aria Para Se Morrer De Amor", "Rancho Das Namoradas", and "Tema Da Desilusao". We think some of the material might have popped up on otheralbums from time to time, but there's still enough stuff here that we hadn't heard elsewhere -- and that we like a lot!

A stunning lost bossa nova soundtrack! The score was penned for the 1967 film Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema), and although you've heard some of the tracks before in other versions, the overall album is very nice -- and is a wonderful tribute to the early days of bossa nova! Jobim and Vinicius perform, as well as Baden Powell, Tamba Trio, Nara Leao, Elis Regina, Ronnie Von, Chico Buarque, and Quarteto Em Cy -- and titles include "Por Voce", "Chorino", "Aria Para Se Morrer De Amor", "Rancho Das Namoradas", and "Tema Da Desilusao". We think some of the material might have popped up on otheralbums from time to time, but there's still enough stuff here that we hadn't heard elsewhere -- and that we like a lot!

A landmark session from the great Baden Powell -- a record that completely transformed the sound of his music, and showed the world he had much deeper talents than just simple bossa guitar! The session was done in collaboration with poet Vinicius De Moraes, with additional vocals from Quarteto Em Cy -- and the sound is a completely captivating blend of rootsy percussion, airy guitar, and poetic vocals -- held together with a unique magic that was hardly ever duplicated again! There's a genius here that's hard to peg, but which is apparent from the very first note -- and equal credit should possibly also be given to producer Roberto Quartin, who managed to make the whole thing happen with an echoey brilliance that's almost as important as the music itself. Titles include the original version of "Canto De Ossanha", plus "Tempo de Amor", "Tristeza E Solidao", "Lamento De Exu", "Bocoche", and "Canto De Xango". (Note: there is a slight dip in sound on the first minute or so of the record -- and this is a tragic flaw in the original mastering, and not in this pressing.)

A beautiful album of post-bossa tunes -- done by Osmar Milito in a dreamily floating style that's totally great -- almost in the mode of some of Marcos Valle's work from the time! The record features the group Quarteto Forma singing vocals on a number of cuts -- but the real charm is from Osmar's arrangements, which mix together piano, horns, and lively rhythms in a complicated way that reminds us of some of the best mix of jazz, soul, and baroque touches that showed up heavily in the Blue Brazil work of the EMI/Odeon crowd! No surprise, the album features great versions of Marcos Valle's "Garra", "To Rio For Love", and "Que Bandeira" -- plus good covers of "Cantalope Island", "Rita Jeep", "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life", "Mudei De Ideia", and "Mercy Mercy Mercy".

A beautiful album of post-bossa tunes -- done by Osmar Milito in a dreamily floating style that's totally great -- almost in the mode of some of Marcos Valle's work from the time! The record features the group Quarteto Forma singing vocals on a number of cuts -- but the real charm is from Osmar's arrangements, which mix together piano, horns, and lively rhythms in a complicated way that reminds us of some of the best mix of jazz, soul, and baroque touches that showed up heavily in the Blue Brazil work of the EMI/Odeon crowd! No surprise, the album features great versions of Marcos Valle's "Garra", "To Rio For Love", and "Que Bandeira" -- plus good covers of "Cantalope Island", "Rita Jeep", "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life", "Mudei De Ideia", and "Mercy Mercy Mercy".