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Lots of earthy percussion here – especially on the leadoff 12" mix of "Alegria" – a flurry of bumping basslines and heady rhythms, peppered here and there with these echoes of older African grooves – almost drifting into the mix as if they're coming from a radio in the next room! The tune's also featured in a radio edit – and the flipside features the very percussion "Cuca (Manga Bo rmx)", which is almost a batucada cut at points – plus the heavier "Puxa (Beat Laden rmx)".

A mixing of modes – although basically music that has a bouncy Batida touch on all tracks! "Ncongo J'Ami" is an older groove, remixed by Batida – and given a jumpy finish that's mighty nice – almost a 70s African vibe, filtered through contemporary Columbia – with just a few twists and turns along the way! The group's own "Yumbala" is reworked by AJ Holmes in an equally bouncy version – one that's got plenty of great basslines that move things along!

High-minded hip hop instrumentals from the reliable Kev Brown – and the first of what we're hoping will be a steady series of Songs Without Words volumes Low Budget Records! Personal favorites of Kev's as well as some previously unreleased beats – with head nodding funky beats all the way – and plenty of unexpected and unpredicatable textures – including some jazzy guitar textures, trippy vocal samples and many more deft touches. Solid stuff from a master! Includes "1% (Out The MPC)", "Life (Remix)", Batida", Look", "Another Private Conversation", "Come Back", "Whoever Programmed Us (Remix)", "Armada Latina (Remix)" and more. 13 in all.

Herbie Mann's got Latin fever – and it makes for one heck of a great 60s album! The vibe here is more bossa nova than the New York Latin of the time – but that's OK with us, because Mann's flute is perfect in the setting – and really sparkles here on the album's tracks that were partially recorded in Brazil! Mann's got a way of putting a nice sort of punch into bossa – using his sharp flute lines in ways you'd never hear a Brazilian player use at the time – and titles include the bossa numbers "Nana", "Groovy Samba", "Influencia De Jazz", and "Batida Differente" – plus "Fever", "The Golden Striker", and "Now Now – Later On".

Nearly 3 albums' worth of music from the legendary Tamba Trio – one of the grooviest groups in the 60s bossa years in Brazil! The trio are quite unique – in that they not only play upbeat bossa rhythms, but also harmonize along with their grooves – in a soaringly sublime quality that really electrifies the tunes! Most of their lyrics are jazzy and somewhat scatted – kind of an added layer of music on top of the core jamming of piano, bass, and drums – and the production on these key 60s sides really helps their sound hit just the right level – a heavenly sound that's occasionally augmented by added percussion, flute, or guitar. The CD is one of the best introductions to their work we've ever seen – as it features material from the 60s albums Tempo, Tamba Trio, and Avanco, plus the rare Brasil Saluda A Mexico single – a whopping 26 tracks in all, with titles that include "Reza", "Tamba", "Batida Diferente", "Influencia Do Jazz", "Nos E O Mar", "O Amor Que Acabou", "Tristeza De Nos Dois", "Negro", "Rio", "Yansa", "Moto Continuo", "Barumba", "Danielle", "Pregao", "Boranda", "Consolacion", and "Morte De Um Deus De Sal".

A quartet of cool remixes – all pulled from vintage grooves on the Kenya Special – but brought together here with a slightly contemporary flavor! The work still echoes its roots quite strongly, but often has a more focused rhythmic approach – tilted towards the dancefloor with the remix energy, yet never with any sort of forced beats or gimmicky additions. Together, the tracks might well serve as a blueprint to show others the right way to remix older African grooves – and titles include "Tiga Kundega (Hide & Smile edit)" by Gatanga Boys Band, "Mapenzi Hayana Daktari (Frankie Francis edit)" by Nairobi Matata Jazz, "Ndiri Ndanogio Niwe (Batida 1977 rmx)" by Mbiri Young Stars, and "Kivelenge (Busy Twist rmx)" by Kalambya Boys.

High-minded hip hop instrumentals from the reliable Kev Brown – and the first of what we're hoping will be a steady series of Songs Without Words volumes Low Budget Records! Personal favorites of Kev's as well as some previously unreleased beats – with head nodding funky beats all the way – and plenty of unexpected and unpredicatable textures – including some jazzy guitar textures, trippy vocal samples and many more deft touches. Solid stuff from a master! Includes "1% (Out The MPC)", "Life (Remix)", Batida", Look", "Another Private Conversation", "Come Back", "Whoever Programmed Us (Remix)", "Armada Latina (Remix)" and more. 13 in all.