In the years before the emergence of MPB giants like Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, Geraldo Vandre was a huge talent that promised to break big – a young vibrant singer who pushed past the romantic stylings of other vocalists, a free thinker who embraced new styles but didn't succumb to the copycat rock of the "Jovem Guarda", and a new force in music who made it seem dangerous and exciting again. Most of his best work's been out of print since the years it came out, which is why we're super-pleased to have this set of 14 tracks from the mid 60s – featuring work that Vandre recorded for Continental, RGE, and BMG, work that we almost never see on vinyl. Titles include "Ladainha", "Vou Caminhando", "Asa Branca", "Disparada", "Hora De Lutar", "Despedida De Maria", "Dia Da Festa", and "Pra Nao Dizer Que Nao Falei Das Flores". CD

A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the overall quality of the proceedings, while never getting in the way of that special magic that made Joyce so wonderful – especially on her albums for EMI! As with those records, Joyce plays acoustic guitar alongside her amazing vocal approach – a style that's unlike anything else we can describe – informed by jazz and Brazilian music, yet soaring and gliding in a completely sublime style – awash in color and light as it flies to the sky. Mauricio Maestro helped out heavily on the record too – and the other players include Mike Manieri on vibes, Michael Brecker on tenor, Joe Farrell on flute, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion – on titles that include a fantastic early reading of "Feminina" – plus "Miserios", "Descompassadamente", "Pega Leve", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Coracao Sonhador", and "Moreno". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the overall quality of the proceedings, while never getting in the way of that special magic that made Joyce so wonderful – especially on her albums for EMI! As with those records, Joyce plays acoustic guitar alongside her amazing vocal approach – a style that's unlike anything else we can describe – informed by jazz and Brazilian music, yet soaring and gliding in a completely sublime style – awash in color and light as it flies to the sky. Mauricio Maestro helped out heavily on the record too – and the other players include Mike Manieri on vibes, Michael Brecker on tenor, Joe Farrell on flute, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion – on titles that include a fantastic early reading of "Feminina" – plus "Miserios", "Descompassadamente", "Pega Leve", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Coracao Sonhador", and "Moreno". CD

5 years after they made their first set of groundbreaking Braziliany jazz tracks together, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida went back into the studio to record another great batch for Pacific Jazz. That second set of sessions is captured here in its entirety, and it features Shank and Almeida playing with the looser rhythm team of Gary Peacock and Chuck Flores on a number of short groovy tracks that clearly had a big influence on the bossa generation. Titles include "Waltz Frio & Calor", "Sunset Baion", "Mood Antigua", "Choro In A", "The Color Of Her Hair", and "Nocturno". CD

A really unique album from Yugoslavian group Angel's Breath – one recorded in Brazil, which might come as no surprise, given that one of the members of the duo is Mitar Subotic Suba – who you'll also know from his groundbreaking album Sao Paulo Confessions! Suba got his start in Serbia, but was crucial in the Brazilian advances in the 90s before his too-early death in 1999 – and the record's definitely got some of the same appeal as the best music of the scene from Chico Science or Arnaldo Antunes – especially in the way it uses offbeat guitar lines, crispy electronics, and unusual rhythms next to lyrics that often feel as poetically experimental as they are tuneful! The whole thing's very difficult to describe, but that really gives it a hell of a lot of charm – and if it were not for the turmoil in Yugoslavia at the time, the set might have seen bigger global attention from the same cultural scene who were embracing Brazilian experiments of the period. Titles include "Madalena", "Velvet", "Caura", "Assassino", "Aplauzi", "40 Seconds Of Love", and "Metak". (Rock, Brazil) LP, Vinyl record album

Groundbreaking work by one of the greatest artists in Brazil – a masterful collection that dips heavily into Jorge Ben's key recordings of the 60s and early 70s for Philips! The scope of sounds here is really amazing – as Jorge starts with an already-great driving samba groove, then expands into bigger arrangements, more complicated sounds, and emerges in the 70s with a heavy funk approach to his work! Nobody could touch Jorge during this time, and every single track on the set is a winner – the kind of stuff that will make you a convert for life, and want to track down every Ben album from these years. The set's filled with treasures – 19 tracks that include "Que Pena", "Taj Mahal", "Chove Chuva", "Xica Da Silva", "Cade Tereza", "Zumbi", "Pais Tropical", "Oba La Vem Ela", "Que Maravilha", "Charles Anjo 45", "O Telefone", "Bebete Vaobora", "Caramba Galileu Da Gailieia", and "Ponta De Lanca Africano". CD

The first in a series of groundbreaking collaborations between a young Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues – one of Elis' first big albums ever, recorded live before a very enthusiastic crowd! The set's a mix of bossa and samba numbers – often sung in duet mode by Elis and Jair – trading lines back and forth with a tremendous sense of energy – although some tracks have each artist stepping out strongly on their own. The album leads off with an extended classic in the "pot-pourri" mode, then rolls into other tracks that include "Precisco Aprender A Ser So", "Ta Engrossando", "Menini Das Laranjas", "Reza", "Terra De Ninguem", and "Arrastao" – all with tight jazz bossa instrumentation! CD

5 years after they made their first set of groundbreaking Braziliany jazz tracks together, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida went back into the studio to record another great batch for Pacific Jazz. That second set of sessions is captured here in its entirety, and it features Shank and Almeida playing with the looser rhythm team of Gary Peacock and Chuck Flores on a number of short groovy tracks that clearly had a big influence on the bossa generation. Titles include "Frio y Color", "Sunset Baion", "Harlem Samba", "Blowing Wild", "Xana-Lyn", and "Serenade For Alto". (Jazz, Brazil) LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from one of the most important labels of the past few years – the groundbreaking Far Out imprint, known for its unique style of blending Brazilian and London grooves! The set features tracks from Far Out's oft-deleted singles series – hard to find 12" releases that often get only short release, and disappear much more quickly than the rest of the label's catalog. If you've missed some of these gems, or if you're like us, and sometimes prefer to put on a full album and save yourself flipping wax, the set's a great way to catch up – and probably introduce yourself to loads of great new music. Titles include "Khameleon" and "Second Future" by Difusion, "Ponteio" by Da Lata, "Colours" by Big Bang, "Smile" by Nature's Plan, "Strike Hard" by Trouble Man, "Brazil (Brazilian reprise)" by Democustico, "Faca De Conta (Roni Size rmx)" by Azymuth, "E Ruim/The Samba (4 Hero rmx)" by Grupo Batuque, and "Banzo Theme" by Banzo. (New Grooves, Brazil) CD

The first in a series of groundbreaking collaborations between a young Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues – one of Elis' first big albums ever, recorded live before a very enthusiastic crowd! The set's a mix of bossa and samba numbers – often sung in duet mode by Elis and Jair – trading lines back and forth with a tremendous sense of energy – although some tracks have each artist stepping out strongly on their own. The album leads off with an extended classic in the "pot-pourri" mode, then rolls into other tracks that include "Precisco Aprender A Ser So", "Ta Engrossando", "Menini Das Laranjas", "Reza", "Terra De Ninguem", and "Arrastao" – all with tight jazz bossa instrumentation! LP, Vinyl record album