Flora Purim and Airto open up nicely in this live setting – getting help from a Fourth World ensemble that also features Jose Neto on guitar, Gary Meek on saxes and flute, and Diana Moreira on a bit of backing vocals! There's a bit less polish here than some of the studio sets by the Fourth World group from the 90s – a nice change that almost gets Airto back to his roots, and which makes Flora's vocals sound even more personal and lovely than ever. Titles include "Sao Felipe", "Time One", "Lua Flora", "Sea Horse", "Africa", and "Step Seven". CD

Insanely great sounds from the legendary Tim Maia – easily the most soulful singer in 70s Brazil, and an artist with a heck of a strong ear for funk, too! The music here is an incredible hybrid of American soul and Brazilian elements – especially since some lyrics are in English – and the grooves are often mixed together in a sound that's nice and fuzzy around the edges, with some slight psychedelic elements that makes the cuts a perfect fit for this Luaka Bop series! Yet Tim Maia's hardly a guy who can easily fit into any easy slot or series – because as you'll hear on this set, he's got a vibe that's all his own – a really wonderful approach that's different even from some of his hippest contemporaries in Brazil – and which has gone onto have influence on countless other generations of singers and musicians – including his nephew Ed Motta. The package is great – a real visual tribute to the sounds within – and titles include "Que Beleza", "Ela Partiu", "Do Leme Ao Pontal", "Brother Father Mother Sister", "Quer Queira Quer Nao Queira", "Let's Have A Ball Tonight", "I Don't Care", "The Dance Is Over", "Rational Culture", "You Don't Know What I Know", and "Nobody Can Live Forever". 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

Great stuff from Marisa Monte – and a record that's criss-crossed with influences, thanks to production by Arto Lindsay, and performances by Marc Ribot, Bernie Worrell, John Zorn, Ryuchi Sakamoto, Nana Vasconcelos, and Ed Motta! Maybe a bit slicker than the current American press hype would have you expect – but a record that's filled with some great songwriting, and plenty of nice moments. Titles include "Beija Eu", "Ainda Lembro", "De Noite Na Cama", "Rosa", "Borboleta", and "Eu Sei". CD

Landmark set of recordings cut for the Pacific Jazz label in the early 50s, and supposedly a major influence on the early bossa artists in Brazil! The tracks were cut by a quartet led by LA altoist Bud Shank, and featuring Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, who was living in LA at the time. The mix of alto and guitar, in a jazzy vein, but with Latiny rhythms, is very similar to the early bossa jazz recordings – and even more so to the later American ones by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Supposedly, original 10" LPs of the material made their way to Brazil, and later influenced Jobim and Gilberto. Although we can't confirm that rumor entirely, you'll sure hear a similarity, and even if you don't, the stuff's still pretty darn great. Titles include "Terra Seca", "Amor Flamenco", "Atabaque", "No No", "Noctambulism", "Tocata", and "Carinoso". 15 cuts in all. CD

In a world of supposed crossover Brazilian projects that have mostly lost their roots, the music of Bebel Gilberto is surprisingly refreshing! This daughter of Joao Gilberto (not Astrud) sings in a manner that's in keeping with the classic bossa divas of years past – but she works here in adventurous collaborations with the likes of Thievery Corporation, Amon Tobin, Suba, and Smoke City, which makes for a mixture of styles that freshens up the bossa considerably. Titles include a remake of "So Nice (Summer Samba)", plus "Samba Da Bencao", "Lonely", "Tanto Tempo", "Bananeira", and "Sem Contencao". CD

Beautiful new work from Joyce – possibly her best album in years! The lovely Brazilian singer/guitarist blows away all the newcomers in the modern bossa field – and shows the world that she's still one of the strongest talents of her generation. The album's got a stronger jazz component than some of her other recent albums, quite driving, in the mode of classic albums like Agua E Luz and Feminina – and Joyce's voice, guitar, and songwriting skills are top-notch all the way! An instant classic – one that will have you shelving all your faked-out remixed, Nu Brazil albums for the real thing! Titles include "Bota De Sete Leguas", "Azul Bahia", "Forcas D'Alma", "Na Casa Do Villa", "Quatro Elementos", "The Band On The Wall", and "Samba Da Silvia". CD