Pure bossa magic – and a wonderful illustration of why the early music of Joao Gilberto was so tremendous! (Actually, all of his music is tremendous, but that seems to be especially the case here!) The tracks are all fantastic – breezy, breathy, and almost effortlessly sung throughout – songs that drift in air almost of their own accord, yet also manage a gently rhythmic groove that's probably the best definition of the style of bossa that you could ever hope to find! Most numbers feature acoustic guitar upfront in the mix alongside the vocals, plus a bit of light percussion – and even when there's fuller orchestrations on the record, they're used spaciously and gently – often with some nice jazzy inflections. Titles include "Briga Nunca Mais", "Ho Ba La La", "Rosa Morena", "Bim Bom", "Lobo Bobo", "E Luxo So", "Aos Pes Da Cruz", "Saudade Fez Um Samba", and "Desafinado". This CD edition includes 3 bonus tracks, from Cantando As Musicas Do Film Orfeo De Carnaval – "A Felicidade", "Manha De Carnival" and "O Nosso Amor". CD

A treasure – some of the first and best bossa nova work ever recorded! This completely essential set compiles most of Joao Gilberto's early recordings for the EMI/Odeon label in Brazil – remarkably influential tracks recorded from the years 1958 to 1961, featuring a young Joao on guitar and vocals, warmly carving out the bossa nova sound that would go on to influence generations of musicians, and which still remains some of his greatest recorded work ever! 38 tracks in all – with titles that include "Chega De Saudade", "O Pato", "E Luxo So", "Brigas Nunca Mais", "Saudade Fez Um Samba", "Trenzinho", "Este Seu Olhar", "Lobo Bobo", "O Barquinho", "Trevo De 4 Folhas", and "Aos Pes Da Cruz". CD

A pivotal album in the careers of Edu Lobo and Maria Bethania – united in a series of unique duets for this classic Elenco session from 1966! The album pre-dates most of Bethania's other work, and is done in a style that's got all the best touches of Lobo's baroque post-bossa arranging style – but with an overall sound that's a bit more stripped-down and rootsy. Edu and Maria duet on about half the tracks, trading vocals back and forth over some incredibly beautiful arrangements – and the remaining tracks feature each artist singing solo. The whole thing's amazing, and titles include great versions of "Upa Neguinho", "Lua Nova", "Candeias", "Veleiro", "So Me Fez Bem", "O Tempo E O Rio", and "Boranda". CD

Really beautiful work from Som Imaginario – a progressive Brazilian group of the 70s, and one who also had strong ties to the world of Milton Nascimento as well! Milton's keyboard player Wagner Tiso is a key part of the record here – playing organ and electric piano – and the set also features wonderful sax and flute from Nivaldo Ornelas, who brings a lot of warmer, soulful currents to the set! The performance is a live one, and has a stile that's really cool – jazzier and more personal than some of the group's studio work at times – recorded in 1976, but issued here for the first time ever. Titles include "Sabado", "Imaginados", "Banda Da Capital", "Os Cafezais Sem Fim", "Xa Mate", and "Radio Guarany". LP, Vinyl record album

Really beautiful work from Som Imaginario – a progressive Brazilian group of the 70s, and one who also had strong ties to the world of Milton Nascimento as well! Milton's keyboard player Wagner Tiso is a key part of the record here – playing organ and electric piano – and the set also features wonderful sax and flute from Nivaldo Ornelas, who brings a lot of warmer, soulful currents to the set! The performance is a live one, and has a stile that's really cool – jazzier and more personal than some of the group's studio work at times – recorded in 1976, but issued here for the first time ever. Titles include "Sabado", "Imaginados", "Banda Da Capital", "Os Cafezais Sem Fim", "Xa Mate", and "Radio Guarany". Features CD-only bonus tracks "Armina" and "Manuel O Audaz". CD