A really amazing set of recordings – vocal sessions done by Fred Astaire in the later season of his career – recorded in the studio with intimate backing by a Verve group that includes Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Charlie Shavers, and Flip Phillips! The material features lovely new interpretations of tunes made famous by Astaire in films, but offered here in a much more relaxed, jazz-based mode. And whether you're a fan of his films or not, Astaire is one heck of a great singer – and hearing him in a setting like this, without the distraction of dancing or film, is really great proof of that fact! Titles include "Cheek To Cheek", "S'Wonderful", "You're Easy To Dance With", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Top Hat White Tie & Tails", "No Strings", and "I Concentrate On You" – plus a few instrumental numbers by the combo. CD

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Lovely live work from Maria Bethania – proof again that a concert setting often brings out her best! The album's got a title that links it to her recent double album – but the overall nature of the performance is much more all-encompassing – older songs mixed with newer ones, delivered in a style that's surprisingly intimate, even at the few points when the backings get somewhat large. Jamie Alem handles the arrangements – in the best modes he's used on other records with Bethania, but with a fair bit of acoustic guitar upfront in the mix – and titles include "Tua", "Fonte", "Curare", "Saudade", "Reconvexo", "Encanteria", "Santa Barbara", "Linha De Caboclo", "E O Amor Outra Vez", "Olho De Lince", and "Guriatan". 36 tracks on 2CDs. CD

Right from the start, Maria Bethania showed herself as an artist who could almost shine better in a live setting than a studio one – from her early records, to famous albums that helped define the sound of MPB, to recent gems like this one – which has the singer still very much at the height of her powers! Maria's got this commanding presence that makes us hang upon each and every word – yet she also finds a way to never push things too far, or ever sound like she's forcing her emotion – a quality that may well come from the album's backings from Wagner Tiso, who gives Bethania the same sort of quiet drama he brought to Milton Nascimento's music back in the 70s. The passage of years have done nothing to hold back Maria's tremendous vocals! Special 2CD set features both of the single volumes from Brazil – and titles include "Cancoes E Momentos", "Sangrando", "Salmo", "Na Primeira Manha", "Maria Maria", "Cais", "Calunia", "A Dona Do Raio E Do Vento", "Fera Ferida", "Festa", "Lua Branca", "Viola Meu Bem", "Carta De Amor", "Minha Senhora", "Mensagem", and "Quixabeira Reconvexo". CD

When we were impressionable little arty tykes, this was one of our favorite soundtracks. It's got some beautiful Satie-esque tracks that feature solo piano by Vladimir Cosma, plus some weird Euro electronic stuff that has a nice cold feel to it. Also features a few tracks from the opera "La Wally", but we always skipped over these. Titles include "Voie Sans Issue", "Gorodish", "Promenade Sentimentale", "Metro Police", and "Lame De Fond". LP, Vinyl record album

A slightly traditional set from Brazilian vocalist Gal Costa – but a great one too, and record that demonstrates a new sense of poise and grace in her vocals in recent years! The material here is mostly bossa – work that pre-dates Gal's initial time on record, but which is delivered here with a sensitivity that's wonderful – never too "easy", despite the familiarity of the tunes, and handled with just that right sense of contemplation and expression with which Jobim and others first penned the tunes. Backing is small combo jazz by a quartet with flute, guitar, bass, and drums – and although live, the sound is nicely close up and intimate – really fitting the mood of the songs. Titles include "Fotografia", "Nada Alem", "Corcovado", "Garota De Ipanema", "Wave", "Samba Do Aviao", "A Felicidade", "Triste", and "Ave Maria No Morro". CD

Double LP compilation of two albums that she originally recorded for Verve – Blossom Sings Broadway & Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Green. Two great albums, and almost impossible to find in the original. Blossom at her best, with tight jazzy backing that's never as drippy as the later cocktail-ish arrangements that mar some of her records. Showtunes, but done in the great breathy Blossom style, with a nice jazzy edge to them. LP, Vinyl record album

Just voice and guitar – a wonderful way to hear the talents of Gilberto Gil, especially after an array of sometimes-muddled styles used on some of his later work! This gem from the late 90s features Gilberto in one of his most stripped-down modes ever – just singing and with his own gentle guitar as accompaniment, in a gentle mode that's quite different from most of his other records, and almost reminds us a bit of his classic album from 1971 – except that here the lyrics are all in Portuguese, and the sound is a little warmer and more optimistic! The recording quality is great – tight enough to capture all the intimacy of the performance, but never too fake or "studio" – and titles include "O Seu Amor", "Aqui E Agora", "Preciso Aprender A So Ser", "Tempo Rei", "Retiros Espirituais", "Rebento", "Metafora", "Meditacao", and "O Compositor Me Disse". CD

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A great collection of French material from both players – originally recorded for 78s on the Swing label, and a key early example of the strong treatment American musicians received in Paris! LP, Vinyl record album

Features Jon Hendricks and Judith Nicosia on vocals, Sonny Fortune on saxophones and flute, Joe Beck and Kenny Burrell on guitar, Clark Terry and Lew Soloff on trumpet, and others. CD

The magic of Jobim lives once again – in this rare live recording from 1981! The performance is wonderfully intimate – and features Jobim on piano and vocals, with no other backing, plus passages in which he talks about his music with the audience, creating a really personal approach – one that's quite different from the impeccable production of his studio work. As usual, Biscoito Fino have done a wonderful job of putting the package together – and the sound of the set is surprisingly rich, a key factor in making a performance like this come across well on CD. Titles include "Desafinado", "Corcovado", "Ligia", "Modinha", "Eu Preciso De Voce", "Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce", "Estrada Do Sol", and "Aguas De Marco". CD

A compilation of tracks from the different Jobim songbooks on Lumiar. The album fits together nicely, and represents some of Jobim's last recordings ever! The set was recorded with the help of some very talented friends – like Chico Buarque, Gal Costa, Edu Lobo, and Leila Pinheiro – and Jobim himself sings and plays piano on nearly all tracks. Titles include "Joao Ninguem", "Samba Do Carioca", "Valsa Brasileira", "O Bem Do Mar", "Milagre", "Por Toda Minha Vida", and "Na Batucada Da Vida". CD

A famous later moment from the great Ennio Morricone – a score that's almost as famous as the film for which it was written – and music that's as filled with a sense of timelessness and sentiment! The orchestrations are lush, but never overtone – and the strings are beautifully punctuated by piano lines, acoustic guitar, and haunting woodwind solos – very evocative, in the best slow-building Morricone way! Titles include the classic title theme – plus "Maturita", "Infanzia E Maturita", "Prima Gioventu", "Fuga, Ricerca E Ritorno", "DalSex Appeal Al Primo Fellini", "Toto E Alfredo", and "Per Elena". CD

Mulligan plays with his orchestra, with featured soloists including Keith O'Quinn on trombone, Mitchel Forman on piano, Mike Bocchicchio on bass, Barry Ries and Tom Harrell on trumpet, Gerry Niewood and Ken Hitchcock on alto, and Gary Keller on tenor. CD

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Andre Previn on piano with Thomas Stevens on trumpet. CD

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With Stephane Grappelli, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Bill Coleman, Phillippe Brun, Germain & Jean Sablon, Patrick & Louis Vola with their orchestras. CD

With special guest Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax. CD

A great reading of the music – billed as "played by a very unusual cast" on the cover – and we agree! The combo features Cootie Williams on trumpet, Hilton Jefferson on tenor, Rex Stewart on flugelhorn, Lawrence Brown on trombone, and Pinky Williams on baritone – and arrangements are by Jim Timmens. LP, Vinyl record album