A hell of a record from Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas – an artist we already loved before, but who's really stepping forth boldly with this release! Freitas has a way with the piano that's unlike anyone else we can think of – that freshness we maybe first felt when hearing a player like Robert Glasper many years back – and he works in a trio setting at a level that completely transforms the format – thanks in part to the very inventive assistance he gets from Jean Elton on bass and Hugo Medeiros on drums and percussion! If you think Freitas looks righteous on the cover, just wait until you hear his music – as he's definitely the real deal, and bound to be a big force in the jazz generation to come. Titles include "Malakoff", "Nascimento", "Sankofa", "Ayeye", "Vila Bela", "Baquaqua", and "Cazumba". (Jazz, Brazil) LP, Vinyl record album

Bebel Gilberto's really grown a lot over the years – and here, she emerges strongly as a fully-formed artist with a voice that's all her own – and a style that doesn't need to rest on the laurels of her famous family legacy! The album's easily one of the most interesting we've ever heard from Bebel – and it's got this slight spiritual undercurrent that's a real change from just bossa modes – a richer, deeper sound that almost shows echoes of some of the more compelling jazz talents in recent years, yet while still balancing out just the right sort of lovely sound for the vocals! Bass is more pronounced than before – often acoustic, but with a rollingly deep quality – on performances by both Kassin and Liminha – and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson brings in some sweet strings at points, but in a very gentle, subtle way. Seu Jorge joins Bebel on the track "Novas Ideais" – and other titles include "Tout Est Bleu", "Tom De Voz", "Nada Nao", "Somwhere Else", "Lonely In My Heart", "Areia", and "Saudade Vem Correndo". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredibly great work from Toninho Horta – especially considering that the album's a US release from the early 90s! Horta's working here in a tight trio with Gary Peacock on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – both players we can trust to keep things real, and help Toninho hit a groove that's solidly jazzy. The style is more straight jazz than some of Horta's other work – but in a really great way – and although he sings a bit on the set in that wordless way of his, there seems to be more of a focus than before on well-played guitar solos, both electric and acoustic. Titles include "Pica Pau", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "My Funny Valentine", "Minas Train", "Footprints", "Tarde", and "O Amor Em Paz". CD

Samba is their gift – and we're all that much richer for it! Os Ipanemas return here in one of their best albums so far – a beautiful blend of earthy percussion, samba rhythms, and just a bit of bossa jazz – put together with a style that's personal and spontaneous, recorded without any extra fanfare – and in a mode that's almost more authentic than similar recordings from the 60s! Leave it to the Far Out label to get a session like this done the right way – because there's none of the too-slick sounds of some revival sessions, nor any of the fake roots that just come off as tired over-hashed ideas. Instead, what we've got here is a lively, organic batch of music that shows that percussionist Wilson Das Neves and guitarist Neco are still growing strongly in their talents – aided here by an array of guest players on trumpet, trombone, flute, and a fair bit of extra percussion – and sounding especially nice on those tracks where Wilson's warmly crackling vocals simmer nicely with the grooves! Titles include "Imperial", "Malandro Qando Vaza", "San Roque", "Valsamba", "Treze Trinta E Nove", "Folia No Samba", "Taioba", and "Samba Pra Mim Mesmo". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet mix of Brazilian grooves and New York attitude – an overlooked session from the end of the 90s – recorded in the US by Brazilian saxman Leo Gandelman, with soulful help from a variety of American players – including Reuben Wilson on organ and both Charlie Hunter and Grant Green Jr on guitar! There's a rich sort of 70s vibe to the record – a tight, funky blend of jazzy riffing and Brazilian percussion, all put together at a level that almost reminds us of Kudu Records at its best – lean, soulful, and surprisingly focused throughout – a great step forward for Gandelman, and for percussionist Juliano Zanoni, who co-arranged the set with Leo, and also wrote most of the tunes. Supposedly, the record never saw the light of day when it was recorded – making this sweet Far Out package its first-ever release! Titles include "Safari", "Pau Grande", "April 7th", "Dance", "Prince Samba", "Groove In The Head", "Pirulito", and "Charlie 1". CD

A fantastic Deodato album from 1973! Although this was recorded at the same time as his American releases on CTI, the album has much more of the flavor of his tighter, jazzier, earlier work – with loads of funky keyboards, and lots of shorter tracks that drive along nicely with interplay between electric bass and Brazilian rhythms. The whole thing's a wonderful bit of electric Brazil from the 70s - with a groove that's hard to match by other albums. Some tracks have been issued on the CD Os Catedratecos 73 – but there appear to be other ones here too. Titles include "Skyscrapers", "Flap", "Rudys", "Soccer Game", "The Byrd", "Elizeth", "Boy Meets Girl", "The First Stone", "Cary & Carole", and "Down The Hill". CD

Never-issued work from these two giants of Brazilian soul – excellent material that really should have seen release back in the day, but which is maybe even more of a treasure presented here at long last! The set's got a warm modern soul glow – the sort of 80s material that Marcos Valle was giving the world at the same time too – lots of rhythms learned from boogie, but given a more sophisticated spin, and just the right touch of jazzy instrumentation – with plenty of sweet keyboards, bouncing basslines, and great vocals throughout. Titles include "Sem Essa", "Batebca", "Dance Baby", "You", and "Suspira". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful release on the Trama label – very much in the tradition of Trama's blending of new and old Brazilian styles! Jair is a wonderful singer – with a warm soulful voice that's instantly captivating, and which sounds even better set in the album's well-crafted arrangements. There's bits of jazz and electronics flowing through the mix, but the overall presentation leaves Jair plenty of room to take the lead, interacting magically with guitar and keyboards, and sounding better and better with each new song! Titles include "Bom Dia Anjo", "Dor De Ressaca", "Frio Pra Bem Longe", "Uma Outra Beleza", "Ficar No Escuro", "Local Proibido", "Falso Amor", and "Sou Teu Nego". CD

Later release from Elza Soares, although the music here is plenty classic all the way through, and very much in the rootsy samba modes she was serving up in the 70s! Instrumentation is mostly acoustic at the core – lots of lively percussion and guitar, mixed with some occasional contemporary touches on a few numbers, jazzing things up with a bit warmth, and some light touches of strings that serve well to underscore the maturity that Elza brings to the lyrics. Titles include "Plenitude", "Doce Acalanto", "Amor Sublime", "Nesse Trem", "Coisas Da Gente", and "Ansia Louca". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet and jazzy pop from early 70s Brazil – a great little album that we'd rank with our favorites by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo! Arthur Verocai isn't nearly as well-known as those two, but he works in a similar territory – taking jazz, large arrangements, and nice touches of electric funk – and working them into a groove that has the soaring and ambitious feel of the best post-Tropicalia work of 70s Brazil! This rare gem was self-produced, and fell of the map almost as soon as it was released – but it really deserves wider recognition, and shines with a depth that makes it an instant classic to our ears! Titles include "Presente Grego", "Caboclo", "Pelas Sombras", "O Mapa", "Sylvia", "Karina", "Velho Parente", and "Dedicada A Ela". CD

Sweet and jazzy pop from early 70s Brazil – a great little album that we'd rank with our favorites by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo! Arthur Verocai isn't nearly as well-known as those two, but he works in a similar territory – taking jazz, large arrangements, and nice touches of electric funk – and working them into a groove that has the soaring and ambitious feel of the best post-Tropicalia work of 70s Brazil! This rare gem was self-produced, and fell of the map almost as soon as it was released – but it really deserves wider recognition, and shines with a depth that makes it an instant classic to our ears! Titles include "Presente Grego", "Caboclo", "Pelas Sombras", "O Mapa", "Sylvia", "Karina", "Velho Parente", and "Dedicada A Ela". LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous new work from Arthur Verocai – the Brazilian legend who's best remembered for his sublime self-titled album from the 70s, but who sounds equally great on this contemporary release! The record has a really classic feel overall – warm, soulful, and filled with plenty of jazzy touches – the best of which are brought to the record by Azymuth, who help Verocai out on about half the album's tracks! But even without their assistance, the whole thing's still plenty darn great – a brilliant batch of original tunes that have a bubbling, mellow sort of majesty – a bit like Marcos Valle or Edu Lobo's best music of the early 70s, and with a similar sort of sophistication as well. Verocai plays acoustic and electric guitar, and vocals are by a variety of guest singers who really get the spirit of the album nicely (including Ivan Lins on one track.) Titles include "Tupa Tupi", "Sucuri", "Abertura", "Bis", "Amor Na Contra Mao", "Caminho Da Roca", "Tudo De Bom", and "Dona Das Meninas". LP, Vinyl record album