A wonderful album of sad-tinged bossa tunes sung by the enigmatic Ana Lucia – a really great vocalist who gets superb backings here from Oscar Castro Neves and the Zimbo Trio! The style of the album is slightly more emotive than the usual bossa album of the time – with a dreamy approach to the vocals that reminds us of some of our favorite French or Italian singers of the early 60s, all nicely juxtaposed with a mixture of jazz and string arrangements from Castro-Neves, and produced with a light and floating finish. There's kind of a watery brilliance to the whole thing that really matches the look of the cover – and titles include "Amei Tanto", "Andam Dizendo", "Acalanto", "Derradeira Primavera", "Valsa De Euridice", "Homem De Verdade", and "Tem Do". CD

A sweet funky classic from 70s Brazil – one of those records that's found thousands of funky fans over the decades – and which still continues to please! The set's the best-ever from Orlandivo – a soulful singer whose set up perfectly here with funky backings from the great Joao Donato – working on organ and Fender Rhodes for the set, and hitting the same soulful styles as his own great 70s albums! Grooves have a sunny feel, but these jazz funk undercurrents that are completely infectious – wicked interplay between the bass and drums, guitar and keyboards – set to vocals from Orlandivo that clearly borrow some of Jorge Ben's soulful influence too. Other players include Sivuca on accordion, Durval Ferreira on guitar, and Helcio Milito on percussion – and titles include "Um Abraco No Bengil", "Palladium", "A Felicidade", "Tudo Joia", "Juazeiro", and "Bolinha De Sabao" – plus the great "Tamaco No Samba", which is a thinly disguised version of "Samba Blim". CD

The rare 3rd album of samba tunes cut by the team of Elza Soares and Miltino – done in a lively, playful style that has the two of them trading vocals on some longer numbers – then moving off into some solo material on their own. Backings are upbeat and jazzy, handled by Nelsinho, with some assistance from Lyrio Panicali – and titles include Miltinho singing "Samba Da Cor" and "Um Samba Pra Ela"; Elza singing "Julgar E Missao Divina" and "Madrugada Vai Chegar"; and the pair of them working through 3 tasty medley tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". CD

Wonderful work from Tania Maria – a singer who's completely back on track these days, and really making classic work again! The format here is simple, and a return to the basics of Tania's early days – keyboards, bass, and percussion mostly in the backings, with Tania singing in that loving lyrical voice that no other singer has ever been able to match (despite legions of countless imitators!) The tunes include a lot of original numbers – really well crafted Brazilian jazz tracks that have a sound that's both light and soulful at the same time – and titles include "Sangria", "Amei Demais", "It's Only Love", "Encanto Meu", "Sebastina", "Ta Tudo Certo", and "Florzinha". CD

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". LP, Vinyl record album

A heavy-hitting album of keyboard funk that's right up there with the best Deodato work for CTI! Brazilian arranger Daniel Salinas was clearly influenced by the success that his fellow countryman Deodato was having in the US during the early 70s – and he's working here in a style that would have made CTI proud – one that blends larger orchestral backings with tight electric rhythms, jazzy soloing, and a few nicely placed moments of Brazilian percussion! The real star of the set is keyboardist Sergio Sa – who plays Fender Rhodes on the standout track "Staussmania" – a killer bit of dancefloor electric jazz that has a very strong "2001" feel! Sergio also wrote the nice little groover "Baiao" – which comes across with a slight sort of Airto/Hermeto mix of percussion and reeds – and the album also features a great fuzzed out take on Donovan's "Atlantis", plus the super-beautiful soundtracky groove "Like A Rainy Night"! CD

A heavy-hitting album of keyboard funk that's right up there with the best Deodato work for CTI! Brazilian arranger Daniel Salinas was clearly influenced by the success that his fellow countryman Deodato was having in the US during the early 70s – and he's working here in a style that would have made CTI proud – one that blends larger orchestral backings with tight electric rhythms, jazzy soloing, and a few nicely placed moments of Brazilian percussion! The real star of the set is keyboardist Sergio Sa – who plays Fender Rhodes on the standout track "Staussmania" – a killer bit of dancefloor electric jazz that has a very strong "2001" feel! Sergio also wrote the nice little groover "Baiao" – which comes across with a slight sort of Airto/Hermeto mix of percussion and reeds – and the album also features a great fuzzed out take on Donovan's "Atlantis", plus the super-beautiful soundtracky groove "Like A Rainy Night"! LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful later album from Ivan Lins – recorded in that wonderfully mature style he developed in the 80s, a mixture of his earlier vocal work, with touches of jazz, and some of the Brazilian soulfulness of the Milton Nascimento generation. The backings on the tracks is relatively electric – produced with a lot of "space", in a style that helps the instruments drift around Lins' always-captivating vocals. The album's got a soaring righteousness that prevails despite a few tinnier touches here and there – and it's filled with strong tracks that include "Vieste", "Maos", "Illuminados", "Paixo Secreta", and "O Ceu Mudou". LP, Vinyl record album

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". CD

Classic bossa mixed with more ambitious touches for the 70s – easily one of the greatest records ever to come from the team of Vinicius and Toquinho! The record has vocals by both, often layered on top of each other with a wonderfully spacious feel that spreads out beautifully between the speakers – and instrumentation features Toquinho's acoustic guitar supported by fuller, jazzier backings from Francis Hime and Edu Lobo – both of whom hit that sublime blend of warmth and space that made their own early 70s Brazilian albums so great! Titles include "Carta Ao Tom 74", "Como E Duro Trabalhar", "Samba Da Volta", "Samba Pra Vinicus", "Samba Do Jato", and "Canto E Contraponto", with a guest performance by Quarteto Em Cy. LP, Vinyl record album

An intimate set, and one with a touch of jazz too – thanks to arranger Nelson Ayres, who also plays piano and keyboards on the record! Paulinho Nogueira's vocals are sweetly nestled into some warm-tinged backings – in a way that's not too smooth, but which has a similar feel to some of late 70s MPB from bigger-name artists. Titles include "Vida E Mar", "Danca Das Abelhas", "Caminhantes", "Boneca", "Uma Nova Vida", and "Modinha". LP, Vinyl record album

Sad and dreamy early 60s work by Alaide Costa – one of the early divas of bossa nova! The album's one of Alaide's most solid from the time – and features backing either by a small combo led by Cesar Camargo, or by a larger group led by Maestro Lindolfo Gaya, the force behind more great Brazilian vocal sessions than we could ever hope to name! Alaide's voice is wonderful – kind of in a compressed emotional mode that's a striking contrast from some of her more overblown contemporaries – and it works well next to the lightly jazzy backings of the album. Titles include "Afinal", "E Agora?", "Igrejinha", "Ouvi Tua Voz", "Historinha", "Como E Gosto De Voce", and "Manha Chegou". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible early work by Nara Leao – some of the most groundbreaking vocals of the bossa era! The arrangements are by Luiz Eca, pianist of the Tamba Trio – and backing is by a small group that includes Eca, Dori Caymmi, and other jazz-tinged players. The overall quality of the backings sounds a lot more like an album recorded five years after the mid 60s – and Nara's mix of bohemian hip and honest bossa sincerity really makes the tracks sparkle wonderfully. Titles include "Samba Da Legalidade", "Canto Livre", "Corisco", "Carcara", "Aleluia", "Incelenca", and "Suite Dos Pescadores". LP, Vinyl record album

Romantic bossa work from the lovely Sylvia Telles – an album that predates her 60s albums for Elenco, and which almost has an equal amount of jazz in the mix as well! Sylvia was one of the few Brazilian singers of her generation who could work equally well in English as well as Portuguese – and one track here is an extended medley of the American standards "All The Way", "The Boy Next Door", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me" – sung in a lightly jazzy style that's totally great. Other tracks are a mix of bossa standards by Jobim, Roberto Menescal, Joao Gilberto, and others – recorded with backings that are light and sweet, and which sometimes include a bit of harmony vocals in the chorus – a nice touch, and one that gives the record a nice sense of variety! Titles include "Dindi", "Nao Gosto Mais De Mim", "Gardez Moi Pour Toujours", "Samba Torto", "Corcovado", "Tete", "Chora Tua Tristeza", and "Oba-La-La". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful bossa from late 60s France – a really lovely session that mixes the vocals of Tita with jazzy backings from Trio Camara – who we know from their own legendary album on the Saravah label! The sound here is a bit different than bossa from Brazil – somewhat darker at points, carried off in that cool continental mode that would sometimes show up when sounds from Rio were filtered through 60s Paris – kind of an extra level of hipness that really makes for some special music here. There's a bit of additional strings next to the trio's backing, which underscores some elements of sadness and also makes for a bit of a soundtrack feel at points – and other instrumentation includes acoustic guitar and some occasional flute. Titles include "Anjo", "Trapezista", "Zefa", "Um Motivo De Ser", "Beatriz", "Nao Faz Mal", "Quebra Mar", and "Vejo A Tarde Cair". CD

A rare bossa set from Argentina – but one that sparkles like some of the best MPB of the time! The lovely Maria De Fatima sings and plays guitar in a style that's not unlike Joyce – quite warm, and often a bit airy – gliding out beautifully over lightly dancing rhythms that draw on samba, bossa, and a bit of jazz! But there's also some more sophisticated phrasings here too – elements that clearly come from a love of 70s work by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and their generation – served up subtly and simply by Maria in her music, with a really unique feel overall. Instrumentation is relatively light – again, a quality that reminds us of Joyce at her best – and backings include work from the Fattoruso brothers, who'd crafted some earlier bossa sets on their own! Titles include "Voce Sorrindo E Entregando", "Toda Menina Bahiana", "Coisas Estranhas", "Bahia Com H", "Tres Pontas", "Sao Joao Xango Menino", and "Cancombe Brasileiro Montevideano". LP, Vinyl record album

A year after their debut, Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues are back on stage with a second lively set of tracks – tightly smoking material that weaves together bossa, samba, and jazz – all with an edge that's almost even greater than Elis' later studio albums! Even at this young age, her voice has tremendous power – echoing out in front of a very supportive audience, sometimes traded in duet form with Jair, sometimes letting him step out in the lead on his own. The backings are great – very much in a small combo bossa mode – and titles include "Tristeza", "Sao Salvador Bahia", "Santuario Do Morro", "Upa Neguinho", "Canto De Ossanha", "Amor Ate O Fim", and an extended "pot-pourri" number that leads off the set! LP, Vinyl record album

A box set featuring some of the very best music ever made by bossa legends Zimbo Trio – the incredible first 6 albums they recorded from the mid-to-late 60s – in a phenomenal 6CD set! It includes the landmark self-titled album from '64 – with a boldness that's way more than just a simple blend of bossa rhythms and jazz – really catapulting them to a leading presence in the sound! The set also includes the equally great Zimbo Trio Vols 2 & 3 from '65 and '66. Also included Zimbo Trio + Cordas – E Tempo De Samba from '67 – the first album to pair the Zimbo Trio with some larger arrangements and really helped expand their sound! Next is Zimbo Trio + Cordas Vol 2 (1968) and the set closes with Zimbo Trio + Metais – Decisao from 1969 – an effort with larger horn backings that their groove even further and creates a beautiful palette of tone and color. Zimbo Trio, Zimbo Trio Vol 2 and Decisao include extra tracks. 6 bonus tracks in all. CD

A cool 60s live set from Jair Rodrigues – one that captures his vocals with a raspy, earthy edge that's really great – mixed up here both in upbeat jazzy samba backings, and some folksier moments too! The album has all the great energy that Jair brought to his famous live dates with Elis Regina – and he seems to borrow a lot from her style on the album's groovers, of which there are many! Titles include "Contracanto", "A Rita", "Vem Menina", "Disparada", "Rapaz Da Moda", "Inae", "Deixa Como Esta", and "No Balanco Do Jequibau". LP, Vinyl record album