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Moody female vocals from Brazil – a great early 70s album with a dreamy feel and a nice electric touch! In a way, the album's a fair bit like the Ana Mazzotti album from the same period, with a mix of some funky scatting vocal numbers, and other tunes that are more laidback, but which fit very nicely next to the uptempo cuts. Arrangements on some of the best numbers are by Meirelles, with a sweetly groovy electric feel that's similar to some of his own albums from the early 70s. Titles include "Foi Assim", "Como Posso Saber", "Sinal De Solidao", "Teia De Aranha", "Po", "Serrado", "Sonhos", and "Ronda Tristeza".

A landmark album that changed a generation of Brazilian musicians – a sublime instrumental collaboration between Airto, Hermeto Pascoal, and 2 other great musicians of their generation! The sound is quite unique – almost a modern recasting of older rootsy modes – taken into the complicated jazzy territory of Airto and Pascoal's best work of the early 70s, but done in an even more stripped down mode! Airto plays percussion, Pascoal plays flute, Geraldo Vandre handles guitar, and Theo De Barros is also in the group – and there's a groove that's impossible to describe accurately, but which you'll instantly recognize as archetypal! Includes the legendary tracks "Misturada" and "Vim de Santana" – plus "Sintese", "Canta Maria", "Canto Geral", and "O Ovo".

A wonderful little album – sweet jazzy MPB from Roberto Nascimento, a lost record that we're very happy got reissued! We'll be honest and say that we didn't know anything about this one in the past – but we really enjoy the record for its warm grooves and gently soulful vocals. The overall sound is somewhere in the mode of Lo Borges, but there's some interesting, almost Joyce-like guitar overtones that give it a different feel than you might expect. Titles include "Lero Lero", "Se Eu Errei", "Tema De Vania", "Voltei", and "El Saltamontes".

A crazy exploitation genre fusion in the Emanuelle series – in which the globe trotting erotic adventurer winds up in situations with the world's last Amazonian cannibals – an anything goes entry in 70s sleazy cinema scored with some of the funkiest music we've ever heard from Italian film composer Nico Fidenco! The movie's settings range from mid-to-late 70s NYC to the Amazon, and the music is tailored to suit – with sultry disco funk theme with female English vocals with hand percussion hinting at the, uh, action to come – to airier, earthier numbers with acoustic instrumentation and flute. Wild, sensual stuff with surprisingly funky touches! Variations on that funky number "Make Love On The Wing" evolve throughout the 30 track set, with other titles including "The Dark Side Of The Soul", Cannibals In Pursuit", "Cannibals At Work", "Cannithrill", "Wild Nightmare", "Technocannibal", "The Meal Is Over" and more.

Titles include "Rainy Night In Tokyo", "When Sly Calls", "How The Garden Grows", "Sunday Morning Here With You", "Amazon", and "Never Satisfied".

An excellent mix of American and Japanese players – all brought into sharp Manhattan focus for this session! The date was recorded in New York, and features arrangements from Al Foster, Tom Harrell, Bib Berg, and Kunhiko Sugano – on cuts that are more warmly acoustic than the electricity you might expect, given the usual fusion groove of most American/Japanese collaborations from the time! There's a lyrical warmth here that's really wonderful – and slight echoes of Brazilian jazz amidst the soulful undercurrents from the US players too. The lineup features Berg on tenor, Harrell on flugelhorn, Foster on drums, Sugano on keyboards, Yoshiaki Masuo on guitar, Yoshio Suzuki on bass, and Sammi Figueroa and Eddie Colon on percussion. Tracks include a great reading of Foster's "Mixed Roots" – plus "Amazon", "O Que Sera", "Hocus Pocus", "Sao Pau Lo", and "To My Lady".

A really messed-up blend of soul, rock, and blues – done in a style that's very much in keeping with the genre-busting Fillmore scene of the late 60s! Maximillian are a trio who run through Hendrix-like guitars, deep soul styled vocals, and bluesy riffing – often in the course of the same number – and the album's produced and arranged by Teddy Vann with a really wonderful approach that keeps things from getting too sloppy, and which propels the record forward without falling into the kind of traps that you'd get from other groups of this nature. Titles include "Moby's House", "The Road Rat", "Naked Ape", "Kickin 9 to 5", "Scar On My Memory", and "Little Amazon".

Heavy fusion from southern Wisconsin – a pretty tasty little set by a group we know nothing about! The lineup includes bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, and saxes – played in a style that's somewhere between some of the jamming, frenetic European groups of the time, and some of the tighter American groups. A few tracks on here really go over the top in a free-for-all fusion kind of style – but there's some better ones that kick back a bit more and are a bit more open to flowing with the rhythms. Titles include "Her", "Slave Trader", "Veena Deva", "Angels Of The Deep", and "Amazon Ritual".

Excellent early 70s work from jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo – a super-dope album that's one of the best he ever recorded! Part of the success of the record has to do with the presence of Bobby Womack – normally a soul singer, but also a heck of a guitarist, playing here alongside Szabo in a very cool twin-guitar style that makes for an amazing sound. Both players have a hollow, warm tone to their work on the strings – stepping around a blend of soul and jazz that's nicely tripped out in a 70s Blue Thumb style. The highlight of the record is the massive track "Breezin", a sample track used by more than one group over the years – but the whole record's amazing, filled with slow, trippy grooves that were years ahead of their time! Titles include "I Remember When", "Just A Little Communication", "Amazon", "Fingers", and "Azure Blue".

A beautiful little overview of the work that Cal Tjader recorded for the Skye Records label at the end of the 60s – some of his grooviest work ever, and all done with a unique blend of styles that Cal barely ever captured again! The rhythms are often inspired by bossa nova, but usually end up coming across a bit funkier – supported by strong electric bass work, and topped off not just by Cal's sweet solos on vibes, but often by electric piano, organ, or harpsichord! Gary McFarland produced all the tracks, and the tunes have a sweetly spacious quality that's like the best of his own work of the time – but even groovier! Titles include "Amazon", "Here", "Eye Of The Devil", "Fried Bananas", "My Little Red Book", "Walk On By", "The Tra La La Song", "Spooky", and "Get Out Of My Way".

Disco tunes with a Brazilian spirit – recorded in Philly by white boy Gary, but with the sunny finish of Copacabana! The tunes were all arranged by John Davis – and Gary's got a nice Free Soul style of singing that makes the songs bounce bouyantly along. Titles include "The Lady Is Latin", "Amazon Queen", "Rio De Janeiro", "The Girl From Ipanema", and "My Rio Lady".

One of the most beautiful albums we've ever heard from Mario Adnet – a set done with some great expanded orchestrations – and key help from guests who include Roberta Sa, Monica Salmaso, and Lenine! The tunes have this spacious, expansive feel that really lives up to the Amazon promise of the title – beautifully poetic, but with the orchestrations, full of fire too – in ways that really take us back to some of the best Brazilian scoring of the early 70s – especially that time when folks like Tom Jobim and Edu Lobo were really hitting their most sophisticated levels. Many numbers have vocals – from Roberta Sa, Vincente Nucci, Monica Salmaso, Lenine, and Mario himself – and titles include "Boto", "Rio Amazonas", "Canoa Canoa", "Trilhas Da Floresta", "Borzeguim", "Saci", and a killer vocal reading of Joao Donato's "A Ra".

Savage stuff! This is one of Les Baxter's greatest albums ever – and it's right on a par with African Jazz, which uses a similar formula: Plas Johnson's up front playing gutsy tenor, and Les is behind, working a large group of exotica players into a tribal frenzy of mellow grooves. Titles include "Amazon Falls", "Coco", "Isle Of Cuba", "Jungla Brava", "Go Chango", and "Blue Jungle".

A lost treasure from Antiono Adolfo – keyboard player, arranger, and one of the greatest Brazilian talents of his generation! Adolfo's sound and style is contemporaneous with the best work of Marcos Valle, Edu Lobo, and others – and like them, he has an approach that mixes together jazz, MPB, baroque orchestrations, easy scoring, and a bit of funk – similar to the best work of the Blue Brazil generation on EMI/Odeon Records. The approach is one that's rarely been matched by any other artist – and it's a strong reason why Adolfo's records from this period are extremely sought after in the world of collectors. This beautiful album from 1970 has Adolfo working with the group A Brazuca – who bring some wonderful vocal harmonies to the set, mixing with strings, guitars, and some great electric piano work from Adolfo. Includes the breezy classic "Transamazonica", plus the cuts "Que Se Dane", "Atencao Atencao", "Claudia", "Panorama", "Tributo A Victor Manga", "Caminhada", "Grilopus No 1", and "Cotidiano".

One of Azymuth's best-remembered albums from their American years on Milestone – a really killer classic that beautifully blends Brazilian and American styles of fusion! There's a simple, elegant feel to these tunes that takes off nicely from the group's previous album for Atlantic in Brazil – a pushing forward of the soulful sides of their style, but with just the right blend of quirkier elements as well – one that still keeps the edge of the early years, yet helps the group reach out with a wonderfully warm sound! Most tracks are quite spare, and without any too-smooth polishing in production – and titles include the classic "Jazz Carnival", a funky fusion classic if there ever was one – plus "Light As A Feather", "Avenida Das Manguerias", "This Exists", "Partido Alto", "Dona Olimpia", "Amazonia", and "Young Embrace". CD also features four bonus tracks – "Jazz Carnival (full original mix)", "Avenida Das Manguerias (SS translation by Theo Parrish)", "Jazz Carnival (Yambee rework by Ashley Beedle & Yam Who)", and "Codsall Juniors" by Mark E.

A legendary early set from percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett – and a really sublime blend of spiritual jazz and Latin rhythms! Mora's percussion is definitely at the core – but the set also features wonderful contributions from Vincent Bowens on tenor and soprano sax, Jerome LeDuff on berimbau, Alberto Nacif on quinto, and Detroit jazz legend Kenny Cox on piano! There's a balance here that really matches the best Strata East energy of the 70s – an open, flowing approach that's completely sublime, and very righteous too – even more so than anything Mora's done since the 70s – making this record one of his greatest achievements ever. Tersa Mora sings a bit of vocals at times – and titles include "Afra Jum", "Five AM", "Rumba Morena", "Samba De Amor", and "Cultural Warrior". CD has an insane amount of bonus tracks – 8 more than the original album – with titles that include "Old Man Joe", "Afra Jum", "Amazona", "Por Que Paro", and "El Morro".

Two great soundtracks by Georges Delerue – both penned for Jean-Paul Belmondo films of the mid 60s! Les Tribulations D'Un Chinois En Chine has a really great style that mixes fake "Chinese" themes with more playful orchestrations – all in a mood that really fits that lightly comedic action of the movie, and which has an extremely evocative feel, even away from the screen! Strings are often arranged in playful ways, and mixed with odd woodwinds – not really authentically Chinese, but that's the appeal! L'Homme De Rio has a stronger Brazilian feel, as you might expect – one that's got bits of batucada, elements of bossa orchestrations, and some of the bolder, more dramatic moments we've come to expect from Delerue! The whole package is great, with lots of images from the films, and notes in both English and French – and a total of 24 tracks that include "Bowling Bresilien", "Batucada/Rapt Au Trocadero", "A La Poursuite De Catalan", "Quelle Adventure", "Mister Goh", "Hong Kong", "Poursuite En Ballon", "Suzy Et Cornelius", and "Choinoiseries" – plus 2 bonus tracks, "Alexandrine Pour Alexandra" and "Amazone".

Beautifully mature work from Brazilian piano legend Joao Donato – an album that draws on his rich legacy of musical expression from the bossa years onward, presented here with a few surprising twists and turns! The core format is piano trio – Joao on the acoustic keys, with Luiz Alves on bass and Robertinho Silva on drums – yet the sound is quite changed from the early days when Donato recorded heavily in this way, inflected with some really complicated rhythms at points, and turned towards these soulful undercurrents we especially love. Instrumentation includes a bit of guest strings on one track – plus vocals from Zeca Pagodinho, flute from Ricardo Pontes, and cavaquinho from Paulinho Soares – artists who each appear on a track in the set. Titles include "Sambolero", "E Menina", "A Ra", "Jodel", "Sambou Sambou", "Amazonas", "Quem Diz Que Sabe", "Surpresa", and "Brisa Do Mar".

A groundbreaking piano trio from the end of the 60s – headed up by Brazilian jazz legend Gilson Peranzetta! Gilson's work has graced countless recent bossa revival sessions, as well as important 70s MPB albums – but this set was recorded back in 1969, when Peranzetta was a pianist trying to break out of the bossa stereotypes of the 60s generation. In doing so, he still used lots of the older trappings of bossa combo albums – sweet rhythms, gentle grooves, and lots of space for keyboard interplay – but he also worked in some more sophisticated arrangements, performed by additional horns on a number of tunes, working in small combo space the same kind of magic that Eumir Deodato would normally craft with a larger orchestra. The results are magically airy and appealing – and the set's a mix of original tunes and groovy covers, with titles that include "Samarina", "Manha Branca", "Afro", "Amazonas", "Watch What Happens", "Zond 5", "Sabia", and "Ela Vem De Volta".

A groundbreaking piano trio from the end of the 60s – headed up by Brazilian jazz legend Gilson Peranzetta! Gilson's work has graced countless recent bossa revival sessions, as well as important 70s MPB albums – but this set was recorded back in 1969, when Peranzetta was a pianist trying to break out of the bossa stereotypes of the 60s generation. In doing so, he still used lots of the older trappings of bossa combo albums – sweet rhythms, gentle grooves, and lots of space for keyboard interplay – but he also worked in some more sophisticated arrangements, performed by additional horns on a number of tunes, working in small combo space the same kind of magic that Eumir Deodato would normally craft with a larger orchestra. The results are magically airy and appealing – and the set's a mix of original tunes and groovy covers, with titles that include "Samarina", "Manha Branca", "Afro", "Amazonas", "Watch What Happens", "Zond 5", "Sabia", and "Ela Vem De Volta".

2 totally great Cal Tjader electric albums – both recorded originally for the Skye label, and back to back on one CD! Cal Tjader Plugs In is a beautifully plugged-in, turned-on session from Cal Tjader – one that features the funky vibist alongside some sweet Fender Rhodes! The session was recorded live, but it's got a flowing, modal quality that rivals Tjader's best work in the studio for Verve and Fantasy at the end of the 60s – a soaring, spacious sound that comes from the interplay between Cal's ringing vibes and the Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano work of Al Zulaica – an excellent player we only know from a few of Tjader's albums. Armando Peraza provides some tight conga work on the set – and titles include "Spooky", "Tra La La Song", "Morning Mist", "Alonzo", "Nica's Dream", and "Get Out of My Way" – a great instrumental take on the Latin soul hit from Joe Torres! Solar Heat is even better – a record that features Joao Donato on organ and Gary McFarland on vibes! The record is a brilliant extension of Cal's styles at Verve – a bit of Latin, a bit of jazz, with some easily grooving numbers that have just the right dose of funk! Donato's organ sounds especially great, and there's also some added electric piano and electric harpsichord on the record, which expands the electricity even more! Loads of great numbers – including "Mambo Sangria", "Fried Bananas", "Solar Heat", "Ode to Billy Joe", and Donato's great "Amazonas".

One of our favorite albums ever from Walter Wanderley – a set that's much more complicated than his earlier trio records for Verve – and which really expands the sound with a host of added elements! Wanderley's core organ bossa groove is amplified wonderfully here with the addition of guitar, vibes, horns, and other elements – all of which help to change the rhythms and move the groove way past just simple stock bossa. Walter plays a bit of electric piano too – hinting at work on later albums – and other players include Jerome Richardson on flute, Bobby Rosengarden on vibes, John Pizzarelli on guitar, and even a bit of vocals from Marge Dodson. There's a wonderful variety of tunes on the set – including Joao Donato's "Amazonas", Baden Powell's "Canto De Ossanha", and Bob Crewe's "Music To Watch Girls By" – plus other gems like "Sensuous", "Sambao", "Arrinho Atoa", "Kee Ka Roo", and "The Bobo".

A very cool batch of tracks that mixes together a wide range of bossa groovers from the 60s! The set features Brazilian-based classics, plus other groovy tunes from American albums that fit in just as well with the dreamy mix of tunes. Titles include "Baia" by Bill Perkins, "Jive Samba" by Jon Hendricks, "Amazonas" by Som Tres, "E Bom Assim" by Os Cobras, "The Man From THRUSH" by Lalo Schifrin, "Mestico" by Wilson Simonal, "Vou Te Contar" by Quarteto 004, "O Pato" by Lennie Dale, "Sambo Do Carioca" by Silvio Cezar et Meirelles, "Boranda" by Edu Lobo, and "Samba De Verao" by Sergio Mendes & Wanda De Sah.

A great counterpart to the first volume of rare 60s Hungarian jazz from Cosmic Sounds – as this one has more of a 70s focus, and an overall sound that's more concentrated in funk! During the 70s, the Hungarian scene picked up a lot of the heavier fusion influences from the rest of Europe at the time – but in a way that often had rock groups hitting a lot more jazzy overtones too, playing instrumentally and jamming nicely on some of the funkiest tracks on their albums. The cuts on this set really get at that sort of groove very well – and demonstrate the surprising amount of funky material that was coming out of Hungary at the time – work that was often driven by a more progressive jazz influence, but which came out stepping with a really in the pocket groove to rival the best American fusion work of the time! CD features 11 tracks in all – including the sublime modal groover "Bamba" by Dimenzio, plus "Ole" by Andor Kovacs, "Kemenysepro" by Kis Rakfogo, "Blue Light" by Bergendy, "Green Wave" by Aldar Pege, "K 14" by Csaba Deseo Quintet, "Stroll In Debrecen" by Debrecen Jazz Group, "Jaguars Humming Birds & Amazons" by Mini, and "Tropusi Laz" by Panta Rhei.

A great counterpart to the first volume of rare 60s Hungarian jazz from Cosmic Sounds – as this one has more of a 70s focus, and an overall sound that's more concentrated in funk! During the 70s, the Hungarian scene picked up a lot of the heavier fusion influences from the rest of Europe at the time – but in a way that often had rock groups hitting a lot more jazzy overtones too, playing instrumentally and jamming nicely on some of the funkiest tracks on their albums. The cuts on this set really get at that sort of groove very well – and demonstrate the surprising amount of funky material that was coming out of Hungary at the time – work that was often driven by a more progressive jazz influence, but which came out stepping with a really in the pocket groove to rival the best American fusion work of the time! LP features 9 tracks in all – including the sublime modal groover "Bamba" by Dimenzio, plus "Ole" by Andor Kovacs, "Kemenysepro" by Kis Rakfogo, "Blue Light" by Bergendy, "Green Wave" by Aldar Pege, "K 14" by Csaba Deseo Quintet, "Stroll In Debrecen" by Debrecen Jazz Group, "Jaguars Humming Birds & Amazons" by Mini, and "Tropusi Laz" by Panta Rhei.

A cool little compilation that's as groovy as you might guess from the title – and one that finally brings to light the lesser-known genre of chica – an odd fusion of cumbia rhythms with more psychedelic-styled instrumentation on farfisa, organ, and guitar! The core grooves remind us a bit of familiar cumbia, but the overall presentation is often a bit more rough-edged and almost garagey at times – a youthful interpretation of the genre that's pretty free with its approach to the music – and which often uses cool electronic touches and weird production techniques to create some really great sounds! Many tracks feature vocals, but the emphasis here seems mostly on the instrumentation – and titles include "Sonido Amazonico" by Los Mirlos, "Carinito" by Los Hijos Del Sol, "A Patricia" by Los Destellos, "Ya Se Ha Muerto Mi Abuelo" by Juaneco Y Su Combo, "La Danza De Los Mirlos" by Los Mirlos, ", "Linda Munequita" by Los Hijos Del Sol, and "Linda Nena" by Juaneco Y Su Combo.

Brilliant work from Francisco Mora Catlett – a really timeless record that encompasses a world's worth of elements in jazz! Catlett's at the height of his powers here – leading the group with a sense of righteous majesty that takes us back to some of the most ambitious heirs of the post-Coltrane generation, but with perhaps an oddly rhythmic twist as well – such as you might find in some of the 70s classics of Bobby Vince Paunetto. Echoes of Latin, Afro, and spiritual jazz come together as one – soaring to the skies on soulful waves of sound – brought together with a sense of focus and spirit that really moves us a lot. Players include Marcus Belgrave and John Douglass on trumpets, Sherman Mitchell on trombone, Vincent Bowens on tenor and flute, Alex Harding on baritone and bass clarinet, Kenny Cox on piano, and Rodney Whitaker on bass – and titles include "Samba/Conga De Amor", "Amazona Prelude/Dawn", "Old Man Joe", "Rumba Morena", "Afra-Jum", "King Of Lightning/Drums Solo", and "Hasta La Vista".

A real classic – one of Tania Maria's greatest American albums, and a sublime blend of styles that shows that her move to the US was not in vein! The group's an easy going west coast Latin ensemble with Eddie Duran on guitar, and the style is a breezy Brazilian one – perfectly situated on the bay shores of the Concord scene, with a nice modern grooving style. Includes the classic "Come With Me", plus "Lost In Amazonia", "Sangria", "Nega", and "Sementes, Graines & Seeds".

One of Azymuth's best-remembered albums from their American years on Milestone – a really killer classic that beautifully blends Brazilian and American styles of fusion! There's a simple, elegant feel to these tunes that takes off nicely from the group's previous album for Atlantic in Brazil – a pushing forward of the soulful sides of their style, but with just the right blend of quirkier elements as well – one that still keeps the edge of the early years, yet helps the group reach out with a wonderfully warm sound! Most tracks are quite spare, and without any too-smooth polishing in production – and titles include the classic "Jazz Carnival", a funky fusion classic if there ever was one – plus "Light As A Feather", "Avenida Das Manguerias", "This Exists", "Partido Alto", "Dona Olimpia", "Amazonia", and "Young Embrace".

A really beautiful set of South American vocal work – a set that draws equal parts inspiration from the styles of Venezuela and Brazil – with a touch of Chilean influence as well – all wrapped up in a style that's warm and slightly jazzy, but with a real edge as well! Maria Marquez has a real undercurrent of darkness in her vocals – not really tristesse, but sort of a deeper layer of feeling that really comes through over the course of the record, but in a very subtle way. The instrumentation really helps work with this approach – gentle bits of accordion, slide guitar, cuatro, and a range of different keyboards – all used to inflect the tunes in these really unusual ways. Titles include "Cancion De Cuna", "Tonada", "El Catire", "Entre Copa Y Copa", "Volver A Los 17", and a nice take on Joao Donato's "Amazonas".

Beautiful sounds from Sergio Ricardo – a Brazilian artist we barely know at all, but who really won us over with this incredible album from the early 70s! There's a complicated vibe to the record right from the start – rich arrangements by Theo Barros that lie somewhere in a space between the Forma Records work of Jose Mauro and some of Marcos Valle's most inventive styles of the time – inventive, yet never too lofty – and bringing in some rootsier elements as the set moves on – all a perfect accompaniment to Ricardo's great vocals! At points, the record has a mix of folksy and sophisticated that almost reminds us of Geraldo Vandre – but at other times, there's a spacious quality that's almost more in the territory of Edu Lobo or Milton Nascimento. Titles include "Asuencia De Voce", "Labirinto", "Arrebentacao", "Conversacao De Paz", "Canto Do Amor Armado", "Bezerro De Ouro", and "Mundo Velho Sem Porteira". CD features 7 bonus tracks too – including "200 Milhas", "Amazonas", "Berimbau", "Improviso Tema 200 Milhas", and "Voce Nao Sabe Quem Sou Eu".

A beautiful collaboration between two of our favorite Brazilian artists ever – the lovely Joyce and bossa piano legend Joao Donato – both of whom have held onto all of their best early charms of their music! The session's definitely got a Joyce flavor upfront, as she's the main vocalist – but Donato's piano is a strong factor too – pulsating wonderfully with those warmly-crafted rhythms he's always done better than anyone else – that unique stop/start groove first forged in the 60s, heard best on his 70s work, and resurrected here to provide a fresh new setting for Joyce! Arrangements are by Donato and Joyce, and by Jesse Sadoc, who plays trumpet in the group – and the production's got a slightly rootsy quality, without any too-slick modes that might hurt the intimacy of a special session like this. Titles include "Amazonas No 2", "Feminina", "Aquarius", "Chama O Donato", "Tardes Caricas", "Caymmi Visita Tom", and "Amor Nas Estrelas".