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An historic 35th Anniversary show from Maria Bethania – recorded wonderfully, with some really sensitive musical backdrops that perfectly follow the rich mood of the set! The presentation is very personal – as Maria's a bit reflective about her years in music – and the undercurrent of sentimentality brings a warmth to the record that you don't always find from Bethania – even as great as her other albums can be! Arrangements are by Jaime Alem, who also directed the group – and the set also features guest appearances by Ana Carolina, Chico Buarque, Renato Teixeira, Moreno Veloso, Edu Lobo, Dori Caymmi, and Nana Caymmi! Titles include "Noite De Estrelas", "Sem Fantasia", "A Moca Do Sonho", "Alegria", "Maricotinha", "As Cancoes Que Voce Fez Para Mim", and "Juntar O Que Sentir".

Maria Bethania's one of those artists who just seems to get better and better with time – already mature in her youth, and tremendously powerful in these later years – working with a depth of feeling that few of her contemporaries can match! And yet through it all, Bethania's also very subtle – more subtle than in her early days, when there was always a touch of drama in her music – working here in some gentle instrumental backdrops that almost take her back past her roots, into an imagined territory that really works wonderfully for her evocative vocals – a space that's all her own, as you might guess from the title! Tracks include "Salmo", "Fado", "Barulho", "Casablanca", "Vive", "Calmaria/Nao Sei Quantas Almas Tenho", and "Lagrima".

As great as he is in the studio, Chico Buarque's almost even better live – especially in a setting like this, where all his personality and charm can really shine through! The set's an extremely well done recording – one that features Chico working with backings that are full, but never clunky, nor competing with his vocals in the space of the arena. And if anything, the overall sound is an extension of the warm modes that Chico laid down on his great studio album Carioca – but made even more personal through the live performance here. The double-length set is overflowing with great tunes – and is another great illustration of the increasing depth of Buarque's music in his later years. Titles include "Renata Maria", "Outros Sonhos", "Imagina", "O Futebol", "A Historia De Lily Braun", "Ela Faz Cinema", "Eu Te Amo", "Bolero Blues", "Leve", "Futuros Amantes", "Joao E Maria", and "Quem Te Viu Quem Te Ve".

One of the rootsiest albums we've ever heard from the lovely Ana Costa – quite different than her earlier funk and soul sides in Brazil, and done in a really great samba mode overall! Instrumentation is mostly acoustic – with excellent percussion and guitar – and Costa's vocals really open up in the setting, with a crackling charm that grabs us right away! Titles include "Peso E Medida", "Que Me Dera", "Sou O Samba", "Filosofia De Vida", "O Que E O Que E", and "Cantador De Felicidade".

A really warm and wonderful little record – one that features the collaborative talents of these four bossa nova giants, all coming together in a really relaxed, intimate setting! Although most of these artists didn't work together in the 60s, they all share a very similar spirit, and come together beautifully here – all four working together on the first and last track in the set, then splitting apart to work in smaller duos, and each take a track or two on their own. Instrumentation is mostly small combo, and warmly jazzy – and Valle, Lyra, Menescal, and Donato all handle the arrangements too – furthering the collaborative spirit of the set. Titles include "Balansamba", "Ate Quem Sabe", "Tereza Da Praia", "Ate O Fim", "Bewitched", "Sextante", "Gente", "Vagamente", "De Um Jeito Diferente", and "Ciume".

A really lovely performance from Olivia and Francis Hime – and one of the most intimate we've ever heard from the pair, too! Olivia sings with just piano accompaniment from Francis – in a way that still has all the majesty of the latter's full arrangements, yet which comes across in this subtle, spare way that's mighty nice – especially when Francis joins Olivia a bit on vocals, too! The format really allows a strong showcase of the maturing talents of both artists – the kind of masterful performance we might have heard from MPB legends a few decades back – on titles that include "Canta Maria", "Minas Geraes", "Saudade De Amar", "Versos Soltos No Mar", "Cancao De Pedroca", "Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce", "Trocando Em Miudos", and "Risque".

A really lovely performance from Olivia and Francis Hime – and one of the most intimate we've ever heard from the pair, too! Olivia sings with just piano accompaniment from Francis – in a way that still has all the majesty of the latter's full arrangements, yet which comes across in this subtle, spare way that's mighty nice – especially when Francis joins Olivia a bit on vocals, too! The format really allows a strong showcase of the maturing talents of both artists – the kind of masterful performance we might have heard from MPB legends a few decades back – on titles that include "Canta Maria", "Minas Geraes", "Saudade De Amar", "Versos Soltos No Mar", "Cancao De Pedroca", "Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce", "Trocando Em Miudos", and "Risque". DVD features bonus tracks and "making of" material too!

An amazing return to form for this legendary Brazilian vocal group – quite possibly the best record we've heard from them in decades, and one of the few later sets to really capture the moody brilliance of their late 60s/early 70s work! The quartet work in a harmony mode, but one that's always been a lot darker than that of older contemporaries – such as Tamba Trio or Os Cariocas – in that MPB4 never think in strict jazz or bossa modes, but use these styles as a core, then move into deeper modes that are fleshed out with creative arrangements, and really wonderful vocal passages. This album really captures all that older charm of the group – thanks in part to arrangement help from Toninho Horta and Duofel – and titles include "Sabe Deus", "Contigo Aprendi", "Eu Amei Uma Vez", "Sabor Em Mim", "Noite De Ronda", and "Relogio".

Early live work from Baden Powell – a set recorded for Elenco in Brazil, but done with some of the best stripped-down, intimate modes of his later European recordings! Baden's acoustic guitar is firmly in the lead on most tracks, and the sound is almost solo, in a way – as the added piano of Oscar Castro Neves and drums of Victor Manga are really just used to color in the spare lines on Powell's guitar. There's a warmly jazzy sensibility to some of the tunes – and titles include "Astronauta", "Tempo Feliz", "Preludio Em Re Menor", "Valsa De Euridice", "Samba De Uma Nota So", "Berimbau/Choro Para Metronomo", and "Lamento".

A beautifully mature recording from Monica Salmaso – a live performance, done in that same blend of sophistication and moody darkness that you might find in some of the best concert albums from Maria Bethania! There's a similar sort of complexity here – in both the emotions of the tunes, and the arrangements – which highlight key instrumentation contributions from Nelson Ayres on piano and Teco Cardoso on saxes and flutes. Titles include "Moite", "Minha Palhoca", "Vespera De Natal", "Valsinha", "Labios Que Beijei", and "Ciranda Da Bailarina".

An incredible live album from Chico Buarque – one that really grabs us right from the start, and holds us rapt in ways that go far beyond the boundaries of language! Chico's recent albums have all been pretty darn great, but there's really something special to this set – a perfect blend of larger arrangements and the spontaneous setting of a live performance – as Buarque's lead vocals and guitar come into play with some larger orchestrations from Luiz Claudio Ramos – nice and lean, but full of power – and giving Chico some of the best backdrops he's had in years! The record has a sophisticated emotive power – one that's very subtle, and which recalls the careful balance of modes used during the bossa years – even though the record itself is quite a different thing than bossa. Key proof that Buarque's many years in music have continued to be pretty darn great – with titles that include "Sinha", "Futuros Amantes", "Na Carreira", "De Volta Ao Samba", "Rubato", "Querido Diario", "Valsa Brasileira", "Sou Eu", "Geni E O Zepelim", "Baioque", and "Ana De Amsterdam". DVD features a bonus "making of" feature too!

Some of the boldest, most expressive work we've heard from Edu Lobo in years – a beautiful recording with the Metropole Orchestra, who help Lobo regain all the lofty power of his early 70s years! The arrangements here are full, and full of feeling too – lead vocals by Lobo soaring over the top of his sublime compositions, pushed onward strongly with the full orchestrations of the ensemble –and given some great jazzy undercurrents by the flute and sax work of Mauro Senise! We always like Edu, but the album's a real return to the qualities that first made us fall in love with his music so many years ago – and is continuing proof that the Metropole Orchestra really know how to bring new energy to an artist. Titles include "Vento Bravo", "Canto Triste", "Casa Forte", "Zanzibar", "Ave Rara", "Choro Bandido", "A Bela E A Fera", "Frevo Diabo", and "Danca Do Corrupiao".

An historic 35th Anniversary show from Maria Bethania – recorded wonderfully, with some really sensitive musical backdrops that perfectly follow the rich mood of the set! The presentation is very personal – as Maria's a bit reflective about her years in music – and the undercurrent of sentimentality brings a warmth to the record that you don't always find from Bethania – even as great as her other albums can be! Arrangements are by Jaime Alem, who also directed the group – and the set also features guest appearances by Ana Carolina, Chico Buarque, Renato Teixeira, Moreno Veloso, Edu Lobo, Dori Caymmi, and Nana Caymmi! Titles include "Noite De Estrelas", "Sem Fantasia", "A Moca Do Sonho", "Alegria", "Maricotinha", "As Cancoes Que Voce Fez Para Mim", and "Juntar O Que Sentir". DVD features 31 tracks in all – double the CD – with subtitles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish – and bonus features too!

An incredible live album from Chico Buarque – one that really grabs us right from the start, and holds us rapt in ways that go far beyond the boundaries of language! Chico's recent albums have all been pretty darn great, but there's really something special to this set – a perfect blend of larger arrangements and the spontaneous setting of a live performance – as Buarque's lead vocals and guitar come into play with some larger orchestrations from Luiz Claudio Ramos – nice and lean, but full of power – and giving Chico some of the best backdrops he's had in years! The record has a sophisticated emotive power – one that's very subtle, and which recalls the careful balance of modes used during the bossa years – even though the record itself is quite a different thing than bossa. Key proof that Buarque's many years in music have continued to be pretty darn great – with titles that include "Sinha", "Futuros Amantes", "Na Carreira", "De Volta Ao Samba", "Rubato", "Querido Diario", "Valsa Brasileira", "Sou Eu", "Geni E O Zepelim", "Baioque", and "Ana De Amsterdam".

Maybe the best work we've heard from Gilberto Gil in years – a really beautiful live performance that mixes his acoustic guitar and vocals with a special string section and some tight live rhythm work as well! The blend of simple and majestic is really wonderful – a performance that's got all the earnest, honest qualities of some of Gilberto's solo sets – yet one that also has an added dimension that really enriches the sound, too – a blend that's quite different than an "with strings" session, and which is more like having someone underscore all the best elements in Gil's core performance upfront – in this case the great Jacques Morelenbaum, a master of subtle feeling and understatement. The set includes some great classics from Gilberto's late 60s/early 70s years – and titles include "Quatra Coisas", "Quanta", "Futurivel", "Eu Descobri", "Saudade Da Bahia", "Domingo No Parque", "Eu Vim Da Bahia", "Panis Et Circensis", "Oriente", "Um Abraco No Joao", and "Tres Palabras".

A beautiful pairing of mature Brazilian talents – working here in a setting that makes both of them shine even brighter than usual! The set features just piano from Francis Hime and guitar from Guinga – and vocals from both – often trading back and forth alongside their instruments, in a stripped-down setting that's wonderfully moody, and really opens up some darker corners in their music! The change is especially great for Guinga – maybe one of the most personal records he's ever cut – and is also a real difference from some of the fuller arrangements you might hear on Hime's larger-format records. Titles include "A Ver Navios", "Mar De Macarana", "Doentia", "Saci/Parintintin", "Cambono/Anoiteceu", and "Saudade De Amar".

We've always loved the music of Paula Morelenbaum, but this time around she's really got something special going on – thanks to keyboards and vocals from the legendary Joao Donato! Most of the tunes in the set are Donato numbers – themselves already a treat, but given a little something extra when handled by the master – as Donato's playing both electric and acoustic piano on the set! But maybe even more special are Joao's wonderful vocals – heartfelt and nicely wizened with age – making for a warm contrast to the more youthful modes of Paula. The arrangements are in that perfect Donato mode – light and lively, but never too wispy – and titles include "A Ra", "Cafe Com Pao", "A Paz", "Tudo Tem", "Entre Amigos", "Mentiras", "Ahie", and "Lugar Comum".

Beautiful reed work from Mauro Senise – spun out over some really creative arrangements that have him sounding even more fluid and expansive than ever – and recorded with help from great guests who include Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, Wagner Tiso, Edu Lobo, and Gilson Peranzzetta! Given that Mauro's helped out most of these artists over the years, the sense of collaboration here is really warm and rich – that great Brazilian instrumental way of sounding expressive, yet never in an overly-emotive or cloying sort of way – easily moving through some classic references, but always with a sense of fresh discovery too. Titles include "Choro Bandido", "Ondine", "Choro Sim Porque Nao", "Tie Sangue", "Bodas De Prata", and "Mauro E Ana". DVD features one more track than the CD, too!

Cavaquinho with a great dose of jazz – all to make some really wonderful music that does a great job of bridging Brazilian music traditions! Joao Callado plays cavaquinho on the set – using the small stringed instrument with a great sense of grace, and working in a highly rhythmic mode too – one that's perfect for the album's mix of instrumentation that often includes trumpet and tenor, used with jazzy inflections – plus plenty of core percussion and guitar as well! A few cuts have vocals, but most are instrumental – and the album's arguably got even more life and spirit than Joao's previous set for the Biscoito Fino label. Titles include "Valsa Jongo", "Samba Em 3", "Explode O Salao", "2 Pra La 3 Pra CA", "3 Na Marcha", "Tecnovalsa", and "Brisa De Copacabana".

Claudette Soares, moving way beyond bossa nova – stepping out here in a wonderful live date from recent years – in a mode that mixes earlier roots with some beautifully mature styles too! Claudette's got this raspy edge to her vocals that she never had in her youth – and the change is really wonderful for giving the tunes a nice sort of bite – a subtle soul mixed with the inherent jazziness in the arrangements – which themselves lie somewhere between Elis Regina at Montreux, and recent live sets on the Biscoito Fino label. Titles include "Mancada", "Abre Alas", "Samba Com Pressa", "Baiao", "O Que Eu Gosta De Voce", "Fato Consumado", and "Mar Amar".

A beautiful set of symphonic tracks based around the work of Antonio Carlos Jobim – work that stretches back to the 50s, up through 60s bossa nova, and even includes some of Jobim's more complicated orchestrations from the 70s! The music is done in the arch-baroque style of other titles on the Biscoito Fino label – with a full symphony orchestra, smaller instrumental groupings, and even some strong vocal performances that drift in and out of the music. The set features re-interpretations of original arrangements by Jobim, Nelson Riddle, Deodato, Claus Ogerman, and others – and was put together by Paulo Jobim. Titles include "Lenda", "Macumba", "O Homem", "Saudade Do Brasil", "Matita Pere", "Chora Coracao", "Bangzalia", "Garota De Ipanema", and "Gabriela". Very nicely done 2CD set!