The Brazilian vibe continues to spread worldwide, as a host of French and European producers go to town on a great set of tracks tinged with the sound of Brazil! This one's a lot more open-ended than some of the other sets on the market with a similar approach, in that the tracks don't necessarily focus on the dancefloor, so much as they expand the groove for a wider variety of experiences. Of course, there's still more than a few toe-tappers on the set – very much in the best style of work on Compost in a similar vein. Titles include "Brazil.com" by Isolee, "Non Fatiguing Natural Silk" by WR, "Ibis Vermelho" by Rom, "My Little Brazilian Pony" by Dr Rockit, "Tridade" by Alex Kid feat Jerome Badini, "Jelba" by Russ Gabriel, "Obrigado" by The Deal, "Bahia Blues" by DJ Spinna, "Tiu Ba La Quieba" by Boyz From Brazil, and "Kotu Rete" by Mental Remedy. (New Grooves, Brazil) CD

One of Maria Bethania's best albums of the 80s – a set that has the singer almost hitting a more personal, more intimate mode – working with music from Caetano Veloso that helps bring in a closeness that Bethania was sometimes missing in her sound! The approach is a bit jazzy at times – with warm keyboard currents that allow Maria to trip lightly on the vocal tip, while still moving with the kind of sophisticated songwriting that serves her best – and Caetano also sings a bit on the record, as does Milton Nascimento. Titles include "Anos Dourados", "Doce Espera", "Yorubahia", "Gostoso Demais", "Tranchan", "Errei Sim", and "Cancoes E Momentos". CD

A great album from one of Ivan Lins' best periods – a great shift in his music, with a sound that's made the album one of his all-time classics! The set has him adapting more of a jazzy sound than on earlier records – dropping some of the baroque arrangements for a sound that's leaner, meaner, and stripped down in a way that really gets the spirit of his great compositions across to the listener. The small backing combo features Gilson Peranzzetta, who plays some excellent electric piano, which gives the album a moody groove that places it somewhere between the early 70s work of Joao Donato and Milton Nascimento. Titles include "Lenda Do Carmo", "Sorriso Da Magoa", "Palhacos E Reis", "Corpos", "Demonio De Guarda", and "Nao Ha Porque". CD

A bit trippy, a bit groovy – and a very compelling little set from the Brazilian duo of Rubinho & Mauro Assumpcao! At one level, the record's got an earthy feel that matches the cover image of the pair climbing out of a tree without their shirts on – but at another level, there's often echoes of some of the funkier modes coming into Brazilian music at the time – a slight Samba Soul influence that mixes well with the earthy, sometimes personal vocals of the duo. In a way, there's almost a similarity here to early work by Os Novos Baianos – who seem to inhabit a similar space – and like that group, these guys have a sound that's got plenty going on, even if you can't completely understand it! Titles include "Ta Tudo Ai", "Debandada Geral", "A Montanha", "Bloco Da Visao", "Os Olhos", "Sozinho Nao Estou", "Quero Companheira", and "Pe Na Estrada". CD

One of the building blocks of the late 60s Tropicalia scene in Brazil – and a standout solo debut from the young Caetano Veloso! The album's got an approach that's as dynamic and trippy as its cover image might imply – the same amazing blend of sounds and styles you'd hear on contemporaneous records by Gal Costa or Os Mutantes – served up with similar wit, wisdom, and charm! Caetano's vocals are amazing throughout – filled with raspy power that goes beyond the barriers of language – and the production has loads of surprising elements tripping through the mix – some rootsy, some slightly orchestrated – but with a softer approach that resonates strongly with more psychedelic use of organ and guitar. The album's as powerful today as it was decades ago – an essential recording that holds up beautifully year after year! The kickoff track is "Tropicalia" (surprisingly enough!), and the album is a non-stop ride through gems like "Alegria, Alegria", "Onde Andaras", "Paisagem Util", "Ave Maria", and the groovy "Soy Loco Por Ti America", written by Gilberto Gil. CD

The second and a half entry in the great Trip Do Brasil project – a selection of remixes, rarities, and live tracks pulled from the earlier sessions for the first two albums! As with those gems, the style here is Brazilian remixology – much more abstract than other projects of this nature, with the original Brazilian influences hidden fairly deeply in the wash of house rhythms, heavy beats, warm keyboards, and other modern dancefloor touches. Titles include "Tente Imaginar" by Larry Heard, "Obrigao (Live)" by The Deal, "2 Notes Samba" by Gekko, "Kotu Rete (kybo mix)" by Mental Remedy, "Todos Os Caminhos" by Doctor L with Lenine, "Search 4 Love" by Cam, "Bossanovitch" by Novo Navis, "Brazil.com" by Isolee remixed by Freaks, "Tiu Ba La Quieba" by The Boyz From Brazil remixed by WR, and "Ibis Vermelho (Ibis Frisco mix)" by Rom remixed by Ernest St Laurent. (New Grooves, Brazil) CD

Spacey Far Out Brazilian grooves from the stellar label's roster – some of the wilder, more tripped out and psychedelic sounds on the label – from leftfield dancefloor grooves, to psych rock inspired grooves, to some of the more experimental numbers by Brazilian music legends! The 2CD set features numbers by Azymuth, Joyce, Binario, Jose Mauro and others – including a number of remixes that have never been released on CD before now! Includes "Apocalipse" by Jose Mauro, "Reza Brava" by Piri, "Tudo Bonito" by Joyce, "Black Magic" by Kirk Digeorgio Presents Offworld, "Caca A Raposa" by Azymuth, "Diretriz" by Binario, "Ao Amigo Quartin by Victor Assis Brazil, "Las Vegas" by Rabotnik, "Intergalactic You, Intergalactic Me" by Troubleman and many more. (Funky Compilations, Brazil) CD

A really wonderful set of Brazilian vocal tunes – sung by Pamela Driggs in a warm and jazzy mode that recalls some of the greats of the 70s! Production is spare and smooth, but never too smooth – and Pamela sings in a mix of English and Portuguese, scatting and tripping easily between the grooves. Titles include "Agua De Beber", "Take Five", "Batucada Surgiu", "Noites No Rio", "Leiloca", "Nature's Beauty", "Vivo Sonhando", and "Itacuruca". CD

The start of a legend – and the very first album by Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66 group, proudly brought to the world through the godlike talents of a young Herb Alpert! Sergio was no stranger to the recording studio by the time of this set, but the record marked a real shift in his music – a change from the mostly-instrumental bossa modes he first forged back in Brazil, and a shift to warmer, sweeter pop with a nice sunny California finish – done through unique production techniques and the group's trademark two-lady lead vocals! The sound is tremendous, and is possibly heard in its purest form here – simple, focused, and given that near-perfect A&M sound through Herb's production skills. Titles include the classics "Daytripper", "Aqua De Beber", "O Pato", "Berimbau", "Mas Que Nada", and "The Joker". 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

A tripped-out set of acid folk guitar from Satwa – featuring Brazilian psychedelic folk genius Lula Cortes, in a feel that's very much like his own great work of the time! Satwa is one of the sweetest sets of psych folk jams we've heard in ages – with a mostly-instrumental, wholly mesmerizing sound spun by Lula on sitar and partner Lailson on 12 string guitar – a rich acoustic blend that's even deeper and more enigmatic than music of this type from the American scene! There's a bit of guest lead guitar on one track by Robertinho Do Recife – and titles include "Satwa", "Can I Be Satwa", "Alegro Piradissimo", "Lia A Rainha Da Noite", "Apacidonata", "Amigo", "Atom", "Blue Do Cachorro Muito Louco", "Valsa Dos Cogumelos", and "Alegria Do Povo". CD

One of the building blocks of the late 60s Tropicalia scene in Brazil – and a standout solo debut from the young Caetano Veloso! The album's got an approach that's as dynamic and trippy as its cover image might imply – the same amazing blend of sounds and styles you'd hear on contemporaneous records by Gal Costa or Os Mutantes – served up with similar wit, wisdom, and charm! Caetano's vocals are amazing throughout – filled with raspy power that goes beyond the barriers of language – and the production has loads of surprising elements tripping through the mix – some rootsy, some slightly orchestrated – but with a softer approach that resonates strongly with more psychedelic use of organ and guitar. The album's as powerful today as it was decades ago – an essential recording that holds up beautifully year after year! The kickoff track is "Tropicalia" (surprisingly enough!), and the album is a non-stop ride through gems like "Alegria, Alegria", "Onde Andaras", "Paisagem Util", "Ave Maria", and the groovy "Soy Loco Por Ti America", written by Gilberto Gil. CD

The final chapter of Lula Cortes amazing run of music in 70s Brazil – a small label release that brilliantly blends together a range of psychedelic influences – all with a gritty edge that's quite different than what you might expect from the date of the album! Things here are every bit as tripped out as on some of Lula's other albums from years before – trippily poetic, occasionally folksy, and sometimes touched with heavier electric moments that really offset the gentler, more organic moments. The reissue features full notes on the music by Cortes himself – and the package offers a rare chance to hear an album whose original pressing was supposedly destroyed before it was ever released! Really great sound, and a lovely package that more than lives up to Lula's amazing music. CD

Just voice and guitar – a wonderful way to hear the talents of Gilberto Gil, especially after an array of sometimes-muddled styles used on some of his later work! This gem from the late 90s features Gilberto in one of his most stripped-down modes ever – just singing and with his own gentle guitar as accompaniment, in a gentle mode that's quite different from most of his other records, and almost reminds us a bit of his classic album from 1971 – except that here the lyrics are all in Portuguese, and the sound is a little warmer and more optimistic! The recording quality is great – tight enough to capture all the intimacy of the performance, but never too fake or "studio" – and titles include "O Seu Amor", "Aqui E Agora", "Preciso Aprender A So Ser", "Tempo Rei", "Retiros Espirituais", "Rebento", "Metafora", "Meditacao", and "O Compositor Me Disse". CD

A wonderful album from the lovely Joyce – one of her best of recent years! The record features Joyce working with bossa maestro Joao Donato – who plays acoustic and electric piano, sings, and helps Joyce with some of the arrangements – and the overall style of the album is very much in the vein of some of his most beautiful work. The set was with contributions from Brazilian jazz players like Paulo Moura, Gilson Peranzzetta, and Tutty Moreno – and Joyce is in fantastic form, singing and playing acoustic guitar with all the soulful passion of her best early recordings. The production is great, too – and the album has a rawer edge than some of Joyce's other work from the 90s – nicely stripped-down, with a rasp in both her vocals and the work of the other jazz players. Titles include "Bananeira", "Anos 30", "Drume Negrita", "Tudo Bonito", "Gala Tanta", "Falta De Ar", "Adolescensia", and "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce". CD

Seminal work from the man credited with the invention of bossa nova! Way back in the early 50s, Bud Shank cut some albums for Pacific Jazz in LA with guitarist Laurindo Almeida. These records mixed together Shank's flute and sax with lively guitar stylings by Almeida – and in many accounts, the recordings are quoted as being a seminal influence on the bossa scene in late 50s Brazil. No surprise, then, that when bossa broke in the US, Pacific Jazz took Shank back in the studio to cut more side in the same style – which is what you'll get on this excellent 2CD set! The work here ranges from 1962 to 1965 – and it features Shank playing in a number of groups: one with Clare Fisher piano, Larry Bunker vibes, and Milt Holland percussion; one with Fisher on piano and organ, Bunker on vibes, and Joe Pass on guitar; one with Joao Donato on piano and Rosinha De Valenca on guitar; and one with De Valenca on guitar and Sergio Mendes on piano. The 2CD set features 28 tracks in all – all pure stripped-down bossa jazz at its finest. Shank's a hell of a reed player – and the format gives him one of the best platforms to blow of his career. Titles include "Sambou Sambou", "Elizete", "Um Abraco No Bonfa", "Gostoso", "Joao", "Serenidade", "Silk Stop", "Sausalito", "Illusao", "Caminho De Casa", "Otem A Note", "Wistful Samba", "O Barquinho", and "Samba Guapo". (Jazz, Brazil) CD

Some of the earliest recordings of Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos – an artist who'd go on to have a huge history in jazz, including famous work with Pat Metheny on ECM! This set has Nana very much in his roots – playing first on a stunning solo percussion track that mixes melodic sounds on cuica with a whole host of other percussion instruments – then joining in this sublime improvisation with guitarist Agustin Pereyra Lucena – another favorite player of ours, and one who normally never records in such a stripped down mode! The mixture of percussion and guitar is fantastic – full of fresh ideas, and a great showcase for Lucena – who then takes off on two shorter solo tracks too. Titles include "Concerto Pra Mae Bio", "Improvisacao", "Tempo Feliz", and "Conversa Do Poeta". CD

A wildly eclectic brew of driving heaviness, looser trippiness, and even some delicate moments from Billy Bond – a more freewheeling and ambitious mix of post psychedelic wildness from Brazil's Billy Bond & co! Volume 3 from 1972 is made up of 2 lengthy suites, " Lado 1 – Acustico" and "Lado 2 – Eectrica Camplementaria". The former is surprisingly lean in spots, with some folky psychedelia in the blender. The latter is full of abrupt, dramatic stop-start dynamics. Volume 4 from '73 includes "No Nos Paran Mas", "Hacia Algun Lugar", Gracias Al Cielo", "Estamos Hartos", "Ano 1939", "Algo Esta Por Suceder" and more. This one is more of a wild and wooly rock & roll set, and a deliciously unpredictable one! CD

Gilberto Gil live at Montreux – playing in this spare, stripped-down style that's quite a change from some of his more fully produced albums of the period – a mode that's very much like some of Gilberto's best albums from the start of the 70s! There's a lot of acoustic guitar in the instrumentation – as you'd guess from the cover – and backing is by a jazzy combo who can bring a slight touch of funk at times, but only in these gentle ways that still live Gil holding most of the energy of the performance with his charismatic presence. The tracks are all very long, with the kind of vocal and instrumental jamming that Gil brought to his best live performances – and the set's recorded in such a way that it really draws the audience into the picture. Titles include "Chororo", "Chuck Berry Fields Forever", "Atras Do Trio Electrico", "Tirole", and "Bat Macumba". CD

The long awaited return of Brazilian iconoclasts Os Mutantes – featuring original Mutante Sergio Dias and a great new band – plus songwriting contributions from Tom Ze and Jorge Ben – a forward looking endeavor, not at all a nostalgia trip! It's been around 30 years since the previous Os Mutantes album, and the never predictable Dias sounds as fresh and energized as we hoped he'd be – with bright, catchy-as-hell melodies, wildly playful carnivalesque sounds as well as more rootsy acoustic bits, on songs that fearlessly blend genres and influences. It's hard to imagine that we'll ever love records from Mutantes, or anyone else in any genre, as much as we love the late 60s stuff – but this is excellent, and among the better Mutantes records since the Rita Lee era. Dias sings and plays electric & acoustic guitars, Egyptian oud, organ, percussion, harmonica and handles the string arrangements, and fellow Mutantes this time out include percussion, drums & vocals by Dinho Leme and Bia Mendes, vocals, piano & keys by Henrique Peters and Fabio Recco, percussion & sound design by Simone Sou, bass, flute, strings and string arrangements and more by Citor Trida. Titles include "Hymns Of The World (Intro)", "Querida Qierida", "Teclar", "2000 E Agarrum", "Baghdad Blues", "O Careca", "O Mensageiro", "Anagrama" featuring Tom Ze, "Aamba Do Fidel", "Nada Mudou", "Gopala Krishna Om", "Hymns Of The World (Final)" and more. CD

Another feather in the Six Degrees cap – and like the rest of their Brazilian music repertoire, an artist who seems bent on breaking down boundaries – both in styles and generations! Ceu's got the same "old is new" feeling as some of the label's other work in recent years – a mode that takes older bossa, samba, and other styles (including dub) – and reworks it using a lightly playful quality, and a relatively stripped-down feel overall. Instrumentation here is mostly acoustic – especially on the rhythms – but it does include some electric bits on keyboards and turntables, used lightly enough as to not interfere with the organic quality of the sound. Ceu's vocals are light, too – but also slightly raspy, in a way that makes them a lot better from some of the too-dreamy singing you might expect on a record like this. Titles include "Lenda", "Malemolencia", "10 Contados", "Vinheta Dorival", "Ave Cruz", "Concrete Jungle", "Vinheta Quebrante", "Samba Na Sola", and "Bobagem". CD