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Classic work from this Brazilian singer – with titles that include "Suas Maos", "Mundo Vazio", "Saudades De Mim", "Bom E Querer Bem", "E Preciso Dizer Adeus", and "Maria Que E Triste".

A smashing 2CD set – one that features two very compelling albums from the lovely Maysa! First up is a self-titled album from 1964 – one of Maysa's first efforts ever, and done in the sweet style of the legendary Elenco label! The set's a live one, and features light bossa arrangements by Eumir Deodato – played by a combo that includes Deodato himself on organ and piano, plus vibes by the engimatic Ugo! Maysa's vocal tone still has some of the drama of later years, but the bossa arrangements really give the whole thing a lighter, livelier feel – one that we really love! Titles include "Demais", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Dindi", "Bouquet De Izabel", "Fim De Noite", and "Bom De Tristeza". Ando So Numa Multidao De Amores is a great one from 1970 – a record that features some great arrangements by Luiz Eca and Roberto Menescal, both of whom give the album a gentle glide that offsets the emotive quality of Maysa's vocals nicely. Titles include "Que Eu Canse E Descanse", "As Praias Desertas", "Quando Chegares", "Bonita", "Suas Maos", "Eu", "Assim Na Terra Como No Ceu", "Molambo", and "Yo Sin Ti". Plus, the CD also features a number of bonus tracks too – including "Historia De Amor", "Homem De Bem", "Depois De Tanto Tempo", "Tema De Simone", and "Nosso Caminho".

The emotions may be intense, but they're never overdone – thanks to the great standards set by the legendary Ensaio TV show – easily one of the best ways to hear a Brazilian artist up close! The set's from the 70s, a time when Maysa wasn't recording as much as during her 60s fame – and offers a good way to see the singer work through some classics in an intimate, up-close sort of way – with arrangements that are a bit more restrained than some of her famous recordings, even though the emotion in the vocals is still right on the money. Titles include "Resposta", "Dindi", "Ouca", "Por Causa De Voce", "Chao De Estrelas", and "Preciso Aprender A Ser So".

Timeless soul from Maysa – who here lends her sweet molasses vocals to numbers made famous by Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass, The Isley Brothers, Chaka Khan, The Stylistics, Roberta Flack and others! Maysa fully employs the sophisticated mellow soul approach on this set – befitting the material quite grandly with her sultry vocals, and tight band providing laidback keys, snapping drums & percussion, and some jazzy smooth horns and flute in spots. The most mature outing yet from the gifted vocalist whose roots helped plant Incognito! Tracks include "Wishing On A Star", "Don't Say Goodnight", "All I Do", "Love Won't Let Me Wait", "Come Go With Me", "Betcha By Golly Wow", "Playing Your Game, Baby", "Love Comes Easy", "Any Love" and "The First Time (I Ever Saw Your Face)".

Wonderful grooves from trombonist Jeff Bradshaw – arguably one of the only artists to keep the Hidden Beach sound going this strongly over the years! The album's a double-length set – which means even more magic than usual from Jeff – still plenty of those sweet instrumental numbers, with lots of funky undercurrents, and great trombone solos in the lead – and also some great vocals on a few numbers – thanks to contributions from Raheem DeVaughn, Kindred The Family Soul, Maysa, PJ Morton, and others! Titles include "Til Tomorrow", "All Day Lovin", "Looking For Love", "Wait Around Love", "Searching", "So Thankful", "I Don't Know How", "He Is", "So Rare", and "Steppin Out".

One of Joao Gilberto's first-ever albums – filled with incredibly beautiful bossa material that captures the vocals and guitar of Gilberto at their fragile early best – backed by sublime arrangements from Antonio Carlos Jobim and Walter Wanderley! The setting is perfect, and the sound is amazing – that incredible stripped-down breathy quality that made Joao a legend right out of the box – which so many others tried to copy over the years, but never got this right. A beautiful relic from the past – with a lovely image of Joao's young face on the cover – and titles that include "O Barquinho", "O Amor Em Paz", "Voce e Eu", "Coisa Mas Linda", and "Presente De Natal". CD features bonus tracks by some of Gilberto's contemporaries – including "O Barquinho" by Maysa, "Coisa Mais Linda" by Carlos Lyra, "Manha De Carnaval" by Sylvia Telles, "Bim Bom" by Oscar Castro Neves, and "O Samba Da Minha Terra" by Lucio Alves.

Soulful, not surreal – a sublime set of sounds from Incognito – one of the few groups who could ever stay this great for so long! The record's overflowing with everything we love about Incognito – that warm blend of soul, jazz, and funk – trained in the best 70s elements at its core, but served up with a lean, tight quality that not only belies the group's London roots, but their potent force in contemporary soul in the 21st Century! And although other recent albums have been great, there's really something special going on here – an extra-great element that we really can't put our finger on exactly, but which had us loving this one from the very first note. Vocals are great – sung by Vanessa Haynes, Natalie Williams, Mo Brandis, and the mighty Maysa – and titles include "The Less You Know", "The Stars From Here", "This Must Be Love", "Thoughtful Fantasies", "Restless We Are", "Rivers On The Sun", and "Above The Night".

Rhonda Thomas sounds better than ever – soaring out in that wonderful mix of jazz and soul that's always made her music so great! We've been following Rhonda for years, and the journey's been a delight at every step – but this time around, the rewards are even greater – as Thomas steps off with a deeply soulful quality that almost reminds us of Maysa at her best, but delivered with some of the leaner flair of the Atlanta scene, of which Rhonda is a very big part! Instrumentation is warm, but never mellow – and there's a nice crisp edge to the rhythms, yet all without resorting to any broken beat styles, or overdone cosmic modes. The album's filled with Thomas' personality and sense of goodwill – overflowing with positive energy from the very first note! Titles include "Listen", "Just Us", "When Music Was Good", "Do Your Thing", "Darfur Woman", "Peppermint Leaves", "Something For You", and "Unmerited Favor". This version includes 3 bonus tracks "The Light (Al Ross rmx)", "Best Intentions (DJ Kemit & Alex Lattimore rmx)", and "Darfur Woman (inst)".

Legendary work from a crucial component of Brazilian culture in the late 60s – the International Song Festivals of the time – a very important way of presenting both new talent and new compositions as well! The events were really unique, and often quite striking – from both a cultural and political perspective – as artists used the festivals as a key platform for taking steps forward in their words and music – sometimes steps that were even bolder than their studio work on record! Performances are unique to the records, and usually represent some key non-album tracks from the artists involved. This first volume brings together seven different albums from the years 1966 to 1968 – all originally issued on the Ritmos and Odeon labels – with work by artists who include Marcos Valle, Dori Caymmi, Beth Carvalho, Golden Boys, Taiguara, Vocalistas Modernos, Luiza, Clara Nunes, Elza Soares, Doris Monteiro, Maria Creuza, Morgana, Miltinho, Stelinha Egg, Reginaldo Bessa, Agostinho Dos Santos, Maria Jose, Quarteto 004, Milton Nascimento, Maricenne Costa, Zeze Gonzaga, Maysa, Quarteto Em Cy, Tuca, MPB4, Silvio Cesar, Paulinho Nogueira, Carlos Hamilton, Elis Regina, and many others! Albums include I Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular Vols 1 & 2 (1966), II Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular (1967), and four volumes of III Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular (1968).

Hats off to Kloud 9 for this excellent set of music – new tracks from the current soul underground, all produced and supported by the mighty talents of the Kloud 9 duo! There's a much more unified feel here than other collections of this type – thanks to a set of original tunes penned by the pair, and solidly soulful backings that mix in bits of jazz, gentle beats, and mellow electric touches that always put the singers here in the best possible light. The groove is mostly at a midetmpo mode – stepping along smoothly, but not in a commercial way – and titles include "I Can" by Althea Rene, "Sunny Day" by Men-nefer, "You Got Me" by Leza, "Get Away" by 2-Way, "Chill Funk" by Michael Fair, "Feel Love" by Tia Smedley, "Didn't Think" by Kloud 9, "Everything You Need" by 2-Way, "Ooh Baby I" by Tim Dillinger, "Runnin" by Maysa, and "Treasure" by Leza.

A wonderful overview of contemporary female soul – none of it commercial, and nearly all of it from the mighty Expansion family of labels – home to some of the hippest Neo Soul around! Work here is from both American and overseas sources, and although a few tracks are issued under the name of a male artist, they also feature a female singer taking on a key lead vocal for the cut. 2CDs and 30 tracks in all, with titles that include "Stay With Me" by Steve Harvey with N'Dambi, "Joy From That" by Tonia Smith, "Same As I Ever Was" by Adriana Evans, "That's What Love Can Do" by Yvonne Shelton, "Love Will Get Us Through The Times" by Preston Glass with Latoya London, "Closure" by Maysa Leak, "Shine" by Aja, "Let's Not Lose" by Kloud 9 with Karen Bernod, "Good News" by Noel Elmowy with Erana Mei Leef, "Is It Love" by Brigette, "Out Of Luck" by Jackie Campbell, "Sensual Loving" by Nicole Jackson, "Blew My Cool" by Eleana Young, "Vanilla Tree" by Gwendolyn Joy, and "I Can't Let You Go" by Steve Harvey with Ledisi.

A great batch of modern soul grooves galore – some from the more natural nusoul realm and others with a slightly clubbier of funkier feel, and really solid stuff all around – and a bargain at under $20!!! Soul Lounge 5 continues the tradition of presenting some of finer tunes from recent releases on Dome Records UK and other soul groove merchants in the UK label scene – with tunes by Incognito, Rahsaan Patterson, Conya Doss, Hil St Soul, Don E, Maysa, Sunburst Band, Seek, James Taylor Quartet and many more! 40 tracks on 3CD: "Oh Lord (Take Me Back)" by Rahsaan Patterson, "Play" by Angela Johnson & Frank McComb, "Stay Ahwile" by Don E, "Head To Toe" by Eric Roberson, "Come Over" by Conya Doss, "In Time" by Beverley Knight, "Step Aside" by Joey Negro, "The Bottle" by Maysa, "Cleo's Mood" by James Taylor Quartet and more.