A gem of a record from the pre-bossa years in Brazil – a set that's not just noteworthy for rich vocals from Elizeth Cardoso, but also for some early arrangements by Antonio Carlos Jobim! Jobim scored the whole set – and while the style is quite different than his later bossa material, there's still a wonderful sensitivity to sound – that richness that Jobim discovered strongly in later years, and a perfect fit for the soulful vocals of Elizeth. The pair at this point went onto have an undeniable influence on Brazilian music for years to come – as you'll hear on tracks that include "Caminha", "Linda Flor Yaya", "So Voce Mais Nada", "Nunca Mais", and "Cancao Da Volta". CD features 6 bonus tracks that include "Ocultei", "Zanguei Com Meu Amor", "Nao Tenho Lar", and "Velha Praca". CD

Rosana Toledo's got some mighty hefty hair on the front cover – but the album is much less stiff and formal – as the singer really taps into her emotive depths throughout – showing us that although life goes on, as promised by the title, it's not without its melancholy moments! Arrangements are relatively full, with light percussion underneath larger orchestrations – all handled by Maestro Nelsinho, on titles that include "Nao Me Diga Adeus", "Salve Ogum", "E A Vida Continua", "Porque Fui Te Encontrar", "Desolacao", "Pra Que Mentir", and "Feitio De Oracao". CD

A rare American session from the Quarteto Em Cy – working here under the name of The Girls From Bahia, and singing in English as well as Portuguese! The album's got a sound that's quite similar to the group's classic 60s Brazilian records on Elenco – thanks to bossa-heavy backings from Oscar Castro Neves – and even when singing in a second language, the girls do a really great job of hitting the sweetest, warmest harmony notes they can – that trademark vocal brilliance that made them such a huge act back in Brazil! Sonny Burke produced, but he clearly gives plenty of space to Oscar – as the album's got little of his usual Warner touches – and instead shows that when you've got the right talent in the studio, you can do a pretty good job of recording bossa in the US. Titles include "Berimbau", "Tem Mais Samba", "Edmundo (In The Mood)", "Lai Ladaia", Morrer De Amor", "Sunny Side Of The Street", "Road To Nowhere", "Old Piano Roll Blues", "The Day It Rained", "E Nada Mais", "Manhattan", "Dindi", and "A Banda (Parade)". CD

A very cool collection of keyboard Christmas tunes – recorded in Brazil, and with a vibe that's a bit different than other records of this nature! This isn't familiar jazz organ Christmas music, but it's also not more traditional styles too – as Lafayette handles his keys with kind of a quirky vibe, getting some nice instrumental backings from Os Tremendoes – almost with currents of 60s instrumental rock, but somewhat groovier overall! Titles include "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", "O Holy Night", "O Tannenbaum", "Christmas In Rio", "Angels We Have Heard On High", and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". CD

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

An amazing little box set – filled with 10 rare bossa nova albums from the Brazilian underground of the 60s – almost all of which we'd never heard before! The records here were mostly issued on small labels at the time – the kind of sets that never circulated widely outside of Brazil, and which often have unusual and striking sounds that are quite different from mainstream bossa work on labels like Verve or Elenco! There's a fair bit of jazz on most albums, and the instrumentation varies nicely throughout – sometimes more sax up front, sometimes more acoustic guitar, or offbeat horn arrangements, odd percussion, and lots of other sweet touches! Each CD features two full albums, completely with cover art and other details of the records – and the set features the albums Balanco E Bossa Nova by Ritmistas Da Bossa, Sambalanco by Orquesta Moderna De Samba, Isso E Bossa Nova Mesmo by Conjunto Sambossa, Saxsambando by Os Saxsambistas Brasileiros, O Balanco E A Bossa by Conjunto Masterplay, Samba Do Bom by Conjunto Samba De Balanco, Samba Pra Frente by Samba Trio, A Musica Maravilhosa De Antonio Carlos Jobim by Bossa Brass, and the self-titled 1964 album by Os Azes De Bossa. CD