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Beautiful new work from Joyce – possibly her best album in years! The lovely Brazilian singer/guitarist blows away all the newcomers in the modern bossa field – and shows the world that she's still one of the strongest talents of her generation. The album's got a stronger jazz component than some of her other recent albums, quite driving, in the mode of classic albums like Agua E Luz and Feminina – and Joyce's voice, guitar, and songwriting skills are top-notch all the way! An instant classic – one that will have you shelving all your faked-out remixed, Nu Brazil albums for the real thing! Titles include "Bota De Sete Leguas", "Azul Bahia", "Forcas D'Alma", "Na Casa Do Villa", "Quatro Elementos", "The Band On The Wall", and "Samba Da Silvia".

A beautiful album from Joyce – one of the few older Brazilian artists whose recent albums sound as good as their old ones! The record is a sparkling set of newly recorded tracks, all handled perfectly by Far Out – one of the few labels that really knows how to make a Brazilian recording these days. Joyce's lovely voice and guitar are backed by a jazzy combo that features husband Tutty Moreno on drums, plus additional guitar, bass, flute, sax, and percussion. The record includes a lot of great new material, and Joyce's voice is in better form than we've heard in years – especially than on her larger-label recordings. Titles include "Hard Bossa", "Zoeira", "Crianca", "London Samba", "Todos Os Santos", "Novelo", and "Vatapa". (CD comes with 2 more tracks than the LP.) Great cover, too!

Sweet work from Joyce – a very intimate album that really reminds us of her classics from years back! Most of the set just features Joyce's vocals and guitar – but as you'll know if you love her as much as we do, that alone is enough to make the record wonderful – a slyly seductive blend that few other artists could carry off this well! The style is rooted in bossa, but inflected with jazz – and yet carried off with an individual style that nobody else can touch. Titles include "Adeus America", "Puro Ouro", "Vela No Breu", "Manha No Posto 6", "Viva Meu Samba", "Rio Meu", and "Mascarada".

A gem of a record from the lovely Joyce – a set recorded during the same key stretch as her early 80s albums for EMI – yet much more obscure! The album's got the same brilliant blend of jazz and bossa phrasing as her classics Agua E Luz and Feminina – and really brings Joyce's beautiful vocals to the forefront, with a strong focus on that fluid, jazzy style we totally love! Acoustic guitar is key to the instrumentation, yet there's also a few electric touches on keyboards – yet used quite softly, so that the presence of Joyce really dominates the record – but with a power that's greater than some of her more solo sets. Wonderful throughout –a nd with cuts that include "Nacional Kid", "Curioso", "Baracumbarra", "Tardes Cariocas", "Luz Do Chao", and "Ela".

Pure brilliance from the lovely Joyce – an album that sparkles wonderfully throughout – in just the way we love from her older classics! The passage of years hasn't dimmed her beauty at all – and both Joyce's vocals and acoustic guitar work are sublime – lively, but in a really subtle way – with plenty of jazz inflections, and a mix of bossa roots that goes way beyond just about any other artist who tries to work in territory like this! Even after decades of recording, Joyce has this really unique, really sublime approach to her music that makes her records unlike anyone else's – as you'll hear on tracks that include "Puro Ouro", "Estado De Graca", "Aquelas Cancoes Em Mim", "Claude Et Maurice", "Quero Ouvir Joao", and "Tudo".

Rare early work from Joyce – a much-needed collection that brings together all the hard-to-find early bits recorded by this fantastic Brazilian singer – songs from compilations, live albums, singles, soundtracks, and other obscure sources! The 20 track set is a real treasure trove if you love Joyce (and we certainly do!) – a way to hear some of these overlooked gems from the initial years of her career – cuts that often show a slight bossa influence, but which also bring in some more complicated modes too – a few trippy touches here, some jazzy inflections there – all wrapped up with the sound that's set Joyce apart from her contemporaries for years. The package has notes that list the source for each track – and titles include "Kyrie", "Andrea", "Copacabana Velha De Guerra", "Dia De Vitoria", "Olhos Feiticeiros", "A Vez E A Voz Da Paz", "Sei La", "Peba & Pobo", and "Pessoas".

Brilliant work from one of our favorite Brazilian artists ever – a singer who only seems to get better with age, and who's working here with some beautiful help from Dori Caymmi! Caymmi plays guitar and sings on a good portion of the album with Joyce – helping to flesh out the overall sound and give it a bit more depth – taking Joyce's already-wonderful mix of breezy vocals, bossa rhythms, and light guitar, and inflecting it with a strong sense of history and tradition. With Dori on board, Joyce is actually freed from playing guitar on most of the record – a feature that seems to bring even more force to her vocals – and as usual, husband Tutty Moreno is in the group, providing some lightly dancing rhythms on the drum kit! Titles include "Mercador De Siri", "Rio Bahia", "Jogo De Cintura", "Saudade Da Bahia", "Demoro", "Pra Que Chorar", "Joaozinho Boa Pinta", and "Flor Da Bahia".

Simply stunning compilation of the work of this fantastic Brazilian guitarist and vocalist, with 23 tracks of her best stuff ever, and put together in chronological order, and with excellent notes written by Joyce herself! Even if you've got any the Joyce Rare Tracks comp, you owe it to yourself to get this one, because it's got a fantastic selection of stuff, and the best mastering of any reissue that's been out to date. Plus, there's lots of stuff on here that still has never been reissued. Better than we even thought it would be!

Beauty, pure beauty! This is one of Joyce's greatest albums – and it features the lovely brazilian singer/songwriter performing in a spare stripped-down setting that's very similar to that used on her famous Agua e Luz album from the same time. The sound quality is incredible, and it's a fantastic mix of sweetness, fragile lyricism, and dark brooding emotion. If you buy just one Joyce album in your life, this might well be it! Includes the cuts "Feminina", "Essa Mulher", "Coracao De Crianca", "Aldeia De Ogum", "Compor", and "Misterios".

Wonderful live work from Joyce – a singer we love in any sort of setting, but one who really seems to open up nicely in front of an audience! The approach here is very much in classic Joyce mode – very intimate and personal, with instrumentation that just includes Joyce on guitar, Tutty Moreno on drums, plus a bit of bass and added guitar – all served up in a warmly jazzy style that fits beautifully with Joyce's legendary vocals. Most tunes have a breezy sort of feel, even when mellow – and the album features guest appearances by Joao Donato, Dori Caymmi, Leila Pinheiro, and Monica Salmaso – who all join Joyce here in a celebration of her 40 years in music. Titles include "Samba De Mulher", "E Era Copacabana", "Misterios", "Clareana", "E Passa O Carrossel", "Samba Da Zona", "Monsieur Binot", "Feminina", "Havana Me", and "Revendo Amigos".

Pure brilliance from the lovely Joyce – an album that sparkles wonderfully throughout – in just the way we love from her older classics! The passage of years hasn't dimmed her beauty at all – and both Joyce's vocals and acoustic guitar work are sublime – lively, but in a really subtle way – with plenty of jazz inflections, and a mix of bossa roots that goes way beyond just about any other artist who tries to work in territory like this! Even after decades of recording, Joyce has this really unique, really sublime approach to her music that makes her records unlike anyone else's – as you'll hear on tracks that include "Puro Ouro", "Estado De Graca", "Aquelas Cancoes Em Mim", "Claude Et Maurice", "Quero Ouvir Joao", and "Tudo".

A sophisticated soul set from the late 70s – done by vocalist Joyce Leftenant, with a smooth groove that reminds us a bit of the mix of jazz and soul you'd hear in Marlena Shaw at the time! Joyce is working here with large arrangements from Mario Sprouse, played by a great range of jazz funk luminaries – including Hank Crawford on alto and Johnny Hammond on keyboards! The instrumentation is nice and strong – so much so that at points, the record almost feels like a jazz album with vocals – instead of the other way around. Titles include "Inside Of Me", "It's Too Late", "You Loved Me All The Time", "Let Me Be Your Woman", "I Believe You", and "Everything That Touches You".

Bossa madness – and a really hard to find pressing of this album! Cannonball Adderley recorded this nice little groover in 1962, when American musicans were just getting on the bossa tip, and still keeping things pretty authentic. The record was cut in New York with Sergio Mendes' early Bossa Rio group – the legendary Brazilian jazz ensemble that featured Paulo Moura, Dom Um Romao, and Durval Ferreira. The mixture of tight bossa rhythms and Cannon's soulful sax is totally great – and it's only because the Riverside label was folding at the time that the record never got bigger fame. Includes the cuts "Joyce's Samba", "Clouds", "Minha Saudade", "Corcovado", "Batida Diferentes", and "Sambops".

Jazz versions of classics by Antonio Carlos Jobim – all done by a group arranged and directed by guitarist Mario Adnet, and featuring guest work from Joyce, Helio Delmiro, Romero Lumbambo, and others! The sound here is really fresh – not merely just a reworking of Jobim's original ideals, but a recasting of them in lightly arranged modes that often take on the shapes, colors, and textures of work by Moacir Santos – styles that are warm, but often have some sharper edges underneath, thanks to great interplay between the instruments. Bits of horns, guitar, piano, and percussion all come together with a tremendous sense of grace – and titles include "Tema Jazz", "Sue Ann", "Domingo Sincopado", "So Danco Samba", "Paulo Voo Livre", "Polo Pony", and "Bate Boca".

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty".

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty".

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty".

Gilberto Gil's first album after a few years exile in England – and a really explosive record that recalls the brilliance of his Tropicalia years! The record's an incredible blend of rootsy percussion, raspy guitar, and tripped-out production – all delivered with an instrumental sensibility that's even more sophisticated than before, and a lyrical interplay that's really amazing – extremely poetic at points, even if you can't understand the language! As with Gal Costa in the early 70s, Gilberto Gil manages to keep some of the best experimental elements of his music burning bright, even after the collapse of the Tropicalia movement – and as with some earlier Tropicalia gems, this album features some great work on bass and guitar from Lanny Gordin, not to mention drums and percussion from Tutty Moreno, who's better known for his later work with Joyce. Tracks include "Back In Bahia", "Expresso 2222", "Oriente", "Chiclete Com Banana", "Pipoca Moderna", and "O Sonho Acabou".

One of our favorite albums ever from Eddie Jefferson – one of the last sessions he ever recorded as a leader, and a stone cooker through and through! The arrangements here are by Slide Hampton, who hits a really soulful groove for the set – one that moves away from some of the more experimental modes of other Jefferson dates of the 70s, and hits a snapping, swinging style that moves Eddie back to his hippest modes of the 60s. Hampton plays trombone in the group, and other players include Charles Sullivan on trumpet, Richie Cole on alto, Junior Cook on tenor, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, and Harold Mabern on piano and electric piano. Leon Thomas produced the record, and Joyce Lawson guests as the female voice on a remake of "Moody's Mood For Love". Other titles include a killer version of Duke Pearson's "Jeannine" that is probably worth the price of the album alone – and there's also "Benny's From Heaven" and "Freedom Jazz Dance", both of which are great, too – plus "Summertime", "Exactly Like You", and "Night Train".

A contemporary set, but one that's unlike any other recent Brazilian recording we can think of – given the very unique vibe that Mauricio Maestro is going for! You might know Mauricio from his mid 70s work with Joyce on Visions Of Dawn – and although this set is a recent recording, it has a same sort of classic feel overall. The sound here has deep rhythms and folksy touches – a warm acoustic mode, but topped with some slight electricity and larger arrangements – a bit like some of the more creative sounds in the Brazilian underground during the post-Tropicalia years – yet with a richness that takes it much farther too! Maestro handled the arrangements, and he brings in a jazz-tinged quality that's not unlike the Milton Nascimento generation – yet the overall approach is earthier too, and vocals are handled by Mauricio, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and Kay Lyra – swirled up with a bit of light string backings that really help the record soar to the skies! We'd rank this one right up there with classics from the 70s by Joyce or Edu Lobo – but we also recognize that it's very much it's own record too. Titles include "Jungle Bells", "Agua Clara", "Canto Do Paje", "Todos Os Santos", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Ouvindo Estrelas", "Upside Down", and "Horizonte".

Forget the "honky tonk" in the title – because this girl knows how to groove! Ellen McIlwaine's got to be one of the most unique talents of the past 50 years – a skilled guitarist, and great singer – working in a blend of folk, jazz, and soul that lies somewhere between the best tunes by Joyce and Joni Mitchell! This album's one of 2 classics she cut for Polydor back in her early years – a mixture of live and studio tunes that are filled with scatting vocals, skittish rhythms, and some really tight (and almost funky) work on acoustic guitar! Tracks include a killer version of "Ode To Billy Joe", plus "Can't Find My Way Home", "Wings Of A Horse", "Toe Hold", "Losing You", "Weird of Hermiston", and "Up From the Skies".

A very nice soundtrack for this obscure film loosely based on the novel by Joyce – clearly a tough task, given the scope of the original book! Myers' score is suitably crazy – with a strange array of orchestral pieces, moving in and out in a "suite" format, and sounding a lot like a Nino Rota soundtrack overall – with plenty of playfully instrumental moments. Titles include "Proteus", "Nestor", "Circe", and "Ithaca".

A beautiful batch of work from pianist Jovino Santos Neto – a very wide range of duets, spread out over one CD recorded in the US, and another in Brazil! Neto's sound here is quite rich, and quite varied – changing up nicely to fit the mood of the artist he's paired with on each track – a great range of talents that runs from Brazilian artists like Joyce, Joao Donato, Airto, Paula Morelenbaum, and Monica Salmaso – to American musicians and singers like Joe Locke, Tom Lellis, Gretchen Parlato, and Bill Frisell! Titles include "Aquelas Coisas Todas", "Insensatez", "Cruzando O Sertao", "Ahie", "Sonora Garoa", "Feira De Mangaio", "April Child", and "Gloria".

A very cool 70s album from Quarteto Em Cy – done with a sound that's quite different than their earlier work, but still pretty darn great! There's a compressed approach used to record the vocals here – a style that takes off from their 1972 album, but has a slightly more electrified feel – almost the warmth of some of the best French work of the 70s. The vocals are still wonderful, and really sound great in this setting – never cheesy and instead almost expanded by the new approach. Titles include a great version of Joyce's "Feminina", plus "Maria Maria", "Sabia", "Vinho Amargo", "Bom Dia", and "Nada Alem".

Jazzy MPB with a wonderfully warm finish – served up sweetly on this overlooked Brazilian nugget from the 70s! Fernando Ribeiro's got a style that's got some of the sophistication of Lo Borges or Milton Nascimento – particularly in the way his lyrics come across with lots of jazz-based inflections that are matched by chromatic tones on guitar – but there's an even more personal quality to some of the songs, which reminds us a bit of Joyce – even though Ribeiro's style is something completely different entirely! It's a bit hard to peg, or describe in words – but like some of Borges' best, there's a captivating feel to the record that really goes beyond the boundaries of language – a style that holds you rapt with words, even if you can't understand their meaning. Titles include "Hora Impropria", "Em Mar Aberto", "Ultimamente", "Aqui & Ali", "Imagina", "Delirio", and "Pedra Sobre Pedra".

A fantastic album by Woody Shaw – spiritual, soulful, and filled with some nice modal grooving! The group's one of the best he ever worked with on Muse – with Billy Harper on tenor, plus Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Joe Bonner, and Cecil McBee – and the approach reminds us of some of the work on Strata East from the same time. The highlight of the record is the cut "Sunbath", which was done in a more famous jazz dance version by singer Joyce Hurley – but Shaw's version has a very similar groove. Harper makes many of the other tracks shine brilliantly, and titles include "Love Dance", "Obsequious", and Harper's own beautiful composition "Soulfully I Love You".

Classic 70s work by Simone – a wonderful Brazilian singer who was one of the few females to follow strongly in the Milton Nascimento style that inspired countless male vocalists of the time. The album's got some great songs – and includes tunes written by Chico Buarque, Danilo Caymmi and Joyce, Joao Bosco, Milton Nascimento and Gonzaga, Jr. Nascimento makes a special appearance on the track "Gota D"Agua" and other titles include "Disfarce", "Matriz Ou Filial", "Sistema Nervoso", "Latin Lover", "Outubro","O Trem Ta Feio", and "Eu Nem Ligo".

Sweetly jazzy Brazilian grooves from the team of Teca & Ricardo – a lovely album recorded in France in the mid 70s, and unheard for years! The feel here is not that dissimilar from some of the recent work by Tom & Joyce, or classic work by the team of Jaime & Nair – Teca's lovely vocals upfront in the mix, often joined in harmony by Ricardo, with backings that are spare and which include lots of acoustic guitar. Post-bossa jazzy vocals with a slight electric twist – warm and intimate, but with lots of groove-oriented touches! Titles include "Saranda", "Estrela Da Cancao", "Cafune", "Trovaoda", "Pra Que Tanta Explicao", and "Le Son Hante".

A massive collection of work from the lovely Wanderlea – all her key albums from the 70s, presented with bonus tracks too – in a box that also contains a full extra CD of rare material as well! Wanderlea's got a style that's maybe a bit more sweet than some of the usual Brazilian singers we stock – not really commercial, at least not from an American 70s pop perspective – but a bit more towards the Brazilian mainstream of the period. Yet there's still a nice edge here – kind of a female pop evolution from the EMI/Odeon style of the start of the decade – with arrangements that still sound refreshing, and songs written by some of the better talents of her generation – including Egberto Gismonti, Gonzaguinha, Caetano Veloso, Joyce, Joao Donato, and Roberto and Erasmo Carlos. The box is a wonderful introduction to her work – and features the full albums Maravilhosa, Feito Gente, Vamos Que Eu Ja Vou, Mais Que A Paixao, and Wanderlea – plus the especially nice Raridades CD – which brings together unusual singles and odd recordings!

A sweet little collection that goes way beyond basic bossa nova – as it offers up tunes from a host of different vintages, in different styles of the genre – including some surprising gems from recent years too! Vintage material is blended nicely with cuts from Far Out and a few other current labels – and together, the tracks show the strong evolution of bossa nova into the 21st Century – way past the basic sounds at the start. There's a number of tracks on here we've never heard before – and titles include "The Girl From Ipanema" by Paula Santoro, "O Nosso Amor" by Vanja Orico, "Agua De Beber" by Xavier Osmir, "Meu Samba Torto" by Clara Moreno, "How Insensitive" by Simao Morto, "Rio Bahia" by Joyce, "Wave" by Victor Assis Brasil, "Mas Que Nada" by Rio Combo, "Dindi" by Paula Santoro with Hugh Burns, "So Danco Samba" by Gustavo Marques, and "Salve Dom" by Armando Marcal. 32 tracks on 2CDs – quite a deal!

A long-overdue collection – and a rich document of one of our favorite sides of the Chicago soul scene! The package is devoted to the tiny Nickel and Penny labels, but it's also equally a set dedicated to legendary radio DJ Richard Pegue – whose work in both mainstream soul and later dusties formats really helped to shape our understanding of soul music! Pegue produced and wrote nearly every track on the set – which makes the collection one of the most unified the Numero Group has ever produced – a true tribute to Richard's great ear for a groovy soul record, and to all the smaller-name groups he helped support on the Windy City scene. The booklet does a great job of telling Pegue's story – really getting at the unique vision he brought to Chicago soul, and the wit and warmth that made him a favorite of many folks over the space of decades. The music alone is enough – stuff we've been waiting to get reissued for years – but together with the Numero research and booklet, the end result is sublime! Titles include "Just Say The Word" by Jerry Townes, "Fall In Love Again" by The Voices, "Never More" by Little Ben & The Cheers, "Why Do You Want To Make Me Sad" by The Norvells, "Instrumental 1" by Richard Terry & Company, "Shadows" by South Shore Commission, "This Is The Woman" by Sidney Pinchback, "The Ember Song" by Sidney Barnes, "Sign Of The Zodiac" by South Suburban Electric Strings, "This Love Of Mine" by Extensions, "Forever Is A Long Long Time" by The Voices, "Do The Pearl Girl (part 2)" by The Matta Baby, "I've Got To Find A Way" by Hallelujah Chorus, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, and "I'm Gonna Get Even With You" by Little Ben & The Cheers.

A long-overdue collection – and a rich document of one of our favorite sides of the Chicago soul scene! The package is devoted to the tiny Nickel and Penny labels, but it's also equally a set dedicated to legendary radio DJ Richard Pegue – whose work in both mainstream soul and later dusties formats really helped to shape our understanding of soul music! Pegue produced and wrote nearly every track on the set – which makes the collection one of the most unified the Numero Group has ever produced – a true tribute to Richard's great ear for a groovy soul record, and to all the smaller-name groups he helped support on the Windy City scene. The booklet does a great job of telling Pegue's story – really getting at the unique vision he brought to Chicago soul, and the wit and warmth that made him a favorite of many folks over the space of decades. The music alone is enough – stuff we've been waiting to get reissued for years – but together with the Numero research and booklet, the end result is sublime! Titles include "Just Say The Word" by Jerry Townes, "Fall In Love Again" by The Voices, "Never More" by Little Ben & The Cheers, "Why Do You Want To Make Me Sad" by The Norvells, "Instrumental 1" by Richard Terry & Company, "Shadows" by South Shore Commission, "This Is The Woman" by Sidney Pinchback, "The Ember Song" by Sidney Barnes, "Sign Of The Zodiac" by South Suburban Electric Strings, "This Love Of Mine" by Extensions, "Forever Is A Long Long Time" by The Voices, "Do The Pearl Girl (part 2)" by The Matta Baby, "I've Got To Find A Way" by Hallelujah Chorus, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, and "I'm Gonna Get Even With You" by Little Ben & The Cheers.

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 rich document of the growth in the Italian jazz scene in recent years – a great leap forward not just for individual musicians, but also for the Schema label as well! Schema first began in the 90s with a relatively programmed approach to jazz – a style that loved the classics, but often reworked them in modern production modes. Yet over the years, the company's really come to be a key home for real jazz and soulful sounds – moving past their original remix identity, to a point where they're arguably one of the most important jazz labels on the European scene! This nicely-priced batch of tracks is a great illustration of that growth – and features a few old Schema faves, mixed with newer artists who've flocked to the label in recent years – presented here in some unique remixes and other nice versions we haven't heard before. Titles include "Beyond The Days" by Gaetano Partiplio, "But Not For You" by Alessandro Maganini, "Hurt Me Bad" by Andrea Balducci, "Waltz For Emily" by Gerardo Frisina, "Banzo" by Rosalia De Souza, "Some Kind Of Blues (Grooveman Spot rmx)" by S-Tone Inc, "Welcome To My World (acoustic)" by Joyce Elaine Yuille, "Hear Us Now" by Christian Prommer's Drumlesson, "Alta Tensione 3am" by Alex Puddu, and "Good Life" by Timo Lassy.

Some of our favorite sorts of soul tracks from the 70s – those mellow groovers that never get too over the top, and have a great slow-burning energy that goes on and on through the night! The tracks here are the sort that bubbled under during the disco generation – more laidback tracks that often used the same arrangers, producers, and studios – but came up with a groove that was much more gentle, and which was perfect for the soulful, sensual lyrics of the tunes! Thanks to efforts by the two-step scene in 80s London, and Chicago steppers in the 90s, lots of these tracks have had great staying power for years – and are perfectly put together in this sublime little compilation. Titles include "Take It Slow" by The Notations, "Trying To Get Next To You" by Arnold Blair, "Ain't It A Shame" by The Dells, "This Feeling's Killing Me" by The Jones Girls, "Sweet Music Soft Lights & You" by Ken Williams, "Love Sounds" by Intimate Strangers, "Let's Do It Again" by The Staple Singers, "Try Love Again" by Natural Four, "Lucky Fellow" by Leroy Hutson, "How Glad I Am" by Joyce Cobb, and "We Got Some Catching Up To Do" by Jean Carn.

Nice comp of old school (...okay, what passes for old school these days) cuts: Schoolly D "PSK What Does It Mean?", Ultramag "Ego Trippin", Fearless Four "Rockin It", Treacherous Three "Body Rock", Just Ice "Going Way Back", Steady B "Bring The Beat Back", Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud "Girls I Got 'Em Locked", fat Boys "Stick 'Em", Roxanne Shante & Biz Mark "Def Fresh Crew", Sweet Tee & Jazzy Joyce "It's My Beat", Run DMC "Peter Piper" and Fresh 3 MCs "Fresh".

One of our favorite albums ever from Eddie Jefferson – one of the last sessions he ever recorded as a leader, and a stone cooker through and through! The arrangements here are by Slide Hampton, who hits a really soulful groove for the set – one that moves away from some of the more experimental modes of other Jefferson dates of the 70s, and hits a snapping, swinging style that moves Eddie back to his hippest modes of the 60s. Hampton plays trombone in the group, and other players include Charles Sullivan on trumpet, Richie Cole on alto, Junior Cook on tenor, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, and Harold Mabern on piano and electric piano. Leon Thomas produced the record, and Joyce Lawson guests as the female voice on a remake of "Moody's Mood For Love". Other titles include a killer version of Duke Pearson's "Jeannine" that is probably worth the price of the album alone – and there's also "Benny's From Heaven" and "Freedom Jazz Dance", both of which are great, too – plus "Summertime", "Exactly Like You", and "Night Train".

An amazing tribute not just to the rich imagination of the young Egberto Gismonti – but also to the vivid sound of Brazilian music in the 70s! The album leaps past any easy definitions – as bits of jazz, MPB, serious scoring, folkloric styles, and other elements come into play – often in the space of a single song – and Gismonti's own keyboards and guitar are mixed with really collaborative efforts from Joyce, Danilo Caymmi, Marcio Montarroyos, and other leading lights of the Brazilian underground at the time! The tunes are quite visionary – in a way that's as sublime as Gismonti's legendary 1973 album – and production is other-worldly, at a level that few Anglo albums could hope to match at the time. Titles include the classic "Cafe" – plus Baiao Do Acordar", "Danca Das Cabecas", "Carmo", "Polichinelo", "Trem Noturno", and "Ano Zero".

Genius 70s work from Woody Herman – funky big band with electric touches, served up on a range of wonderful tunes! Woody's still at the helm of the group on saxes and clarinet – but as with other Fantasy and Cadet albums, the real thanks here goes to arrangers – who include Bill Stapleton, Alan Broadbent, Tony Klatka, and Richard Evans – who's making a brief post-Cadet appearance here to serve up a fierce version of his classic "First Thing I Do" – a jazzy reworking of the Joyce Williams tune, done here with a nice break, wah-wah guitar, and a real badass soundtrack style! Rhythm players include Joe Beck and Ray Barretto – and the whole album's great throughout. Titles include "Think On Me", "A Child Is Born", "Freedom Jazz Dance", "First Thing I Do", "Giant Steps", and a great take on Chick Corea's "La Fiesta", complete with electric piano!

Genius 70s work from Woody Herman – funky big band with electric touches, served up on a range of wonderful tunes! Woody's still at the helm of the group on saxes and clarinet – but as with other Fantasy and Cadet albums, the real thanks here goes to arrangers – who include Bill Stapleton, Alan Broadbent, Tony Klatka, and Richard Evans – who's making a brief post-Cadet appearance here to serve up a fierce version of his classic "First Thing I Do" – a jazzy reworking of the Joyce Williams tune, done here with a nice break, wah-wah guitar, and a real badass soundtrack style! Rhythm players include Joe Beck and Ray Barretto – and the whole album's great throughout. Titles include "Think On Me", "A Child Is Born", "Freedom Jazz Dance", "First Thing I Do", "Giant Steps", and a great take on Chick Corea's "La Fiesta", complete with electric piano!

Beautiful scatting bossa from Sabrina Malheiros – an artist we're only getting to know with this album, but who we already totally love! Sabrina's got a warm and breezy style that takes us back to the glory days of the 60s bossa scene – but she's also working here with an approach to rhythm and instrumentation that brings in some well-placed modern touches. The album's not just a simple "bossa vocals with electronics" album – like too many others on the market – as Sabrina's mostly working with acoustic instrumentation, touched off by a bit of keyboards and the occasional crackling drum part. And instead, there's a depth here that reminds us a lot of Joyce – a warmth that catches fire immediately, and which stays glowing throughout a range of expressive styles. The tunes are really great too – original, soulful, and without any too-easy bossa cliches. A real gem from Far Out – and one of the label's best albums in years! Titles include "Passa", "Love Sorte", "Saudade Rio", "Maracatueira", "Vibrasom", "Estrada De Chao", "Cade Voce", and "Capoeira Vai".

A lavish book that documents the rich graphic legacy of McSweeney's – a press that makes books as beautiful to view as they are to read – thanks to work from some of the most forward-thinking graphic artists around! The huge volume features hundreds of images – from rough sketches to final publications – showing the full range of creative process that goes into each publication – not just the McSweeney's journal, individual books, and other projects as well! The book features contributions and commentary from a huge cast of folks – including Chris Ware, Michael Chabon, Charles Burns, Joyce Carol Oates, Dave Eggers, David Byrne, Tony Millionaire, and many others – and features loads of full-color images too. 262 pages, hardcover, and coffee table-sized!

One of our favorite records ever from Toninho Horta – a set that's got an airy brilliance that goes beyond most of his other albums! The sound here is amazing – kind of a jazzy extension of territory explored by Milton Nascimento a few years before – served up with a warmly dancing groove with the same fluid feel as Joyce at her best! Horta's getting some wonderful help here to realize his musical vision – a lineup that includes Lo Borges on vocals, plus instrumentation from Wagner Tiso, Raul De Souza, Luis Alves, and Roberto Ribeiro – as well as a guest appearance by Pat Metheny! Titles include the amazing track "Aqui Oh!", plus "Saguin", "Caso Antigo", "Prato Feito", "Vento", "Minha Casa", and "Era So Comeco Nosso Fim".

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".

The sound of The Beatles, completely re-imagined by a host of hip acts from Brazil – a stunning lineup that includes some under-discovered talents from the younger generation, plus a few key artists from earlier years as well! As you'd guess from the "69" in the title, most of the tracks here are from the final years of the group – a fair bit of material from Abbey Road – opened up and given a whole new sort of energy here – showing the rich inspiration the fab four were still able to provide, even at the end! Beatles music has been a crucial influence on Brazil, from the 60s Jovem Guarda and Tropicalia scenes onward – and the work here really shows the range of influences, extrapolated through really creative instrumentation, vocal arrangements, and production techniques. The whole thing's hardly another "tribute to" session – and instead is more like an extended poem inspired by the work of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Titles on this third volume include "Here Comes The Sun" by Joyce, "Something" by Flavio Venturini & Aggeu Marques, "Polythene Pam" by Autoramas, "The End" by Milton Nascimento, "Mean Mr Mustard" by Joao Donato with Paula Morelenbaum, "Because" by Aretha, "Golden Slumbers" by Elis Regina & Milton Nascimento, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" by Pouca Vogal, and "Her Majesty" by Silvia Machete.

A sweet set of electric funk from James Moody – and a great little record to match the grooves he was laying down at the Perception label in the early 70s – with a very unique sound! Moody's working here alongside some sweet work on electric piano by either Jodie Christian or Tennyson Stephens – and with some sly and soulful arrangements by Chicago soul maestro Richard Evans, who also plays bass on the record and gives it a style that's almost an extension of the later Cadet kind of groove. The album features an excellent funky instrumental version of " First Thing I Do In the Morning", originally a funky vocal 45 by Chicago singer Joyce Williams – and other cuts include "Trilby", "Don't Let Me Be Lonely", "World Is A Ghetto", "Good Sense Humor Man", and "Country City Country".

Sweetly jazzy Brazilian grooves from the team of Teca & Ricardo – a lovely album recorded in France in the mid 70s, and unheard for years! The feel here is not that dissimilar from some of the recent work by Tom & Joyce, or classic work by the team of Jaime & Nair – Teca's lovely vocals upfront in the mix, often joined in harmony by Ricardo, with backings that are spare and which include lots of acoustic guitar. Post-bossa jazzy vocals with a slight electric twist – warm and intimate, but with lots of groove-oriented touches! Titles include "Saranda", "Estrela Da Cancao", "Cafune", "Trovaoda", "Pra Que Tanta Explicao", and "Le Son Hante".

Funky nuggets from a vastly under-tapped source – the mighty holdings of Warner Music, which include some great funky singles from Atlantic, Atco, and Reprise – as well as even deeper gems on a batch of obscure labels like Kwanza and Clintone! The package is totally great – with a heavy, hard edge that goes way past the more famous soul tunes on Atlantic – into the deeper funky territory normally reserved for smaller indie labels at the time. A few tracks on here are by well-known acts, but there's a lot more that aren't – and this all-legit, well-noted collection kicks it far better than any old dodgy funky 45 set! 25 fantastic cuts in all, including "Improve" by Darrow Fletcher, "I'm Just Like You" by 6ix, "Rise Up" by The Commodores (pre-Motown!), "Help Me Make Up My Mind" by Joyce Jones, "Do The Funky Boogaloo (part 1)" by Barry Jones, "Mashed Potato Popcorn" by Freddie & The Kinfolk, "Get In The Groove" by The Mighty Hannibal, "Funky John" by Johnny Cameron & The Camerons, "The Memphis Train" by Rufus Thomas, "I'm On The Move" by Bobby Byrd, "Whatever's Fair" by Mark Holder & The Positives, "Hang On In There" by Stovall Sisters, "Won't Nobody Listen" by Black Haze Express, and "Your Love Is Certified" by Rasputin's Stash.

A stunning selection of Chicago soul – with many many rare singles from the legendary Okeh label, one of the best-ever for the Chi-soul sound! Titles include "End Up Crying" by The Vibrations, "Let Me Show It To You" by The Fundamentals, "You Can't Take It Away" by Azie Mortimer, "Yesterday Is Gone" by The Variations, "Hello Heartaches, Goodbye Love" by Joyce Davis, "Can't Live Without Her" by Billy Butler, "You're Gonna Be Sorry" by The Opals, "Cool Breeze" by Gerald Sims, "Memories" by The Triumphs, and "After You There Can Be Nothing" by Walter Jackson.

Bright as daylight pop, psyche and more in the Piccadilly Sunshine series – catchy numbers that are just trippy enough and kaleidoscopically colorful – the fourth set in the series of overlooked nuggets from Great Britain's pop dustbin! The series pulls together material we've never heard before, but they should have been much bigger given the fairly grand arrangements and depth of tunefulness. Great stuff from The Laurels, David Morgan, Gaslight, Jago Simms, Gervase, Paul Raven, Keith Field, The Monopoly, Barry Ryan, Lace, Chris McClure, Joyces Angels, Factotums, West Coast Delegation, Brian Connell, Deuce Coup, Now, Bob Clarke and more. 20 in all: "I'll Be On My Way Dear", "by Barry Ryan, "People People" by Lace, "The Day That War Broke Out" by Keith Field, "Dawning"" by David Morgan, "Angela" by Deuce Coup, "The Hands On My Clock Stand Still" by Now, "Haunted" by Bob Clarke and many more.