... CD

... CD

... 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

... CD

A fantastic illustration of the live music tradition on Brazil – one that really arose on records during the 60s, and blossomed strongly on 70s records like this – which feel almost more like an event than a recorded document! The concert features a magnificent meeting of Chico Buarque and Maria Bethania – both very strong talents on their own, balanced in this really great way amidst larger backings from Maestro Gaya – duetting on tunes that really turn into something special from their performance – never a challenge of egos, but instead a wonderful folding of strong ideals. Terra Trio provide the rhythms – and most numbers are Buarque originals – with titles that include "Flor Da Idade", "Vai Levando", "Bem Querer", "Noite Dos Mascarados", "Tanto Mar", "Gota D'Agua", "Com Acucar E Com Afeto", and "Sem Fantasia". CD

Wonderful early work from Maria Bethania – an album that's put together with a very sophisticated sound, and a really powerful feel overall! The orchestrations are relatively baroque – sometimes using strings in odd ways, other times bringing in bits of voices – all very much in keeping with the genius that was brewing at the time in albums by Gal Costa or Nara Leao. And oddly, the backings for the album are not credited at all – save possibly to Manoel Barenbein, who's listed as the director of the production – and we're guessing that Maria had a good deal to do with the overall sound of the set, not just the vocals! Titles include a wonderful groover called "Mano Caetano", done as a duet with Jorge Ben, and very much in Ben's best style from the time – and other tracks include "Janelas Abertas No 2", "Jesus Cristo", "Que Me Dera", "Folha Morta", "Mariana, Mariana", and "A Tua Presenca Morena". 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

Lovely live work from Maria Bethania – proof again that a concert setting often brings out her best! The album's got a title that links it to her recent double album – but the overall nature of the performance is much more all-encompassing – older songs mixed with newer ones, delivered in a style that's surprisingly intimate, even at the few points when the backings get somewhat large. Jamie Alem handles the arrangements – in the best modes he's used on other records with Bethania, but with a fair bit of acoustic guitar upfront in the mix – and titles include "Tua", "Fonte", "Curare", "Saudade", "Reconvexo", "Encanteria", "Santa Barbara", "Linha De Caboclo", "E O Amor Outra Vez", "Olho De Lince", and "Guriatan". 36 tracks on 2CDs. CD

Two rare sessions by Vinicius – back to back on one 2 CD set! CD one features a 1970 recording in Buenos Aires – with Maria Creuza and Toquinho. Creuza was at her best during the early 70s – and working here with the classic bossa team of poet Vinicius De Moraes and guitarist Toquinho, she really sparkles with a sound that's some of her best singing on record. The trio sing separately or together from track to track – and the set includes a lot of great work that's in the Black Orpheus or Afro Sambas mode. Titles include "Canto De Osshana", "A Felicidade", "Tomara", "Canto De Osshana", "Minha Namorada", "Valsa Da Tunisia", "Lamento No Morro", and a great version of Caetano Veloso's "Irene"! The other CD follows a similar format – with Maria Bethania instead of Creuza – and tracks include "A Tonga Da Mironga Do", "Kabulete", "E De Manha", "Samba Da Rosa", "Testamento", "Apelo", "Viramindo", and "Tarde Em Itapoa". 2CD set features lots of bonus tracks – 12 more titles that include "Nesta Ru Tao Deserta", "Formosa", "Ate Londres", "Gente Do Morro", "Das Rosas", "E Nada Mais", "Berimbau", and "Samba Em Preludio". CD

Not the same Maria Rita that rose to international fame in the past decade or so – but an earlier, much more obscure singer with a nicely rootsy vibe – one whose presence in the Brazilian music scene is maybe more welcome to our ears than her famous later namesake! The album came out at the end of the 80s, but has a sound that feels more like the experimental generation of MPB in the 70s – some moments that have the brashness of Gal Costa around her India album, other moments of gentleness that recall the sensitive soul of Joyce, and maybe a few slight touches of the deeper drama of Maria Bethania – and yet, like all of those artists, this Maria Rita is very much her own person – as can easily be heard by the lack of pop production or commercial efforts on this very unique album. Titles include "Cantico Brasileiro No 1", "Cancao Da Gaora", "Lamento Africano/Rictus", "A Cidade", "Melodia De Veludo", and "Trilhas". CD

A great document of the way that Jane Birkin really flourished in the second half of her musical career, especially in the years after the passing of Serge Gainsbourg – a time when Birkin was emerging to be one of the real giants of French music on her own, as testified to in the power of this series of live performances! The Jane Birkin here is very different than the breathy voice next to Serge on her early recordings – and instead, she commands the stage with the presence of singers like Maria Bethania or Gal Costa – maybe no surprise, as the very generous presentation of these performances will attest. The box brings together live sets from 1987 up to 2023 – albums that include Au Bataclan, Au Casino De Paris, A L'Olympia, En Concert Au Japon, Arabesque, Au Palace, Sings Serge Gainsbourg Via Japan, Le Symphonique Live, and Oh Pardon Tu Dormais. CD

One of the greatest albums ever from Caetano Veloso – a rare all-English language set, recorded in London during the years of his exile! The post-Tropicalia set is a fair bit different than any other Veloso album we can think of – not just because of the English language, but also because the approach is somewhat gentle, and almost folksy at times – a real change from his experimental modes of the late 60s, and easily his most personal statement to date. The tunes are incredibly beautiful – filled with themes of loss and longing that no doubt come from his separation from Brazil – and although a few tunes feature light strings from Phil Ryan, most of the backings are relatively light, and almost acoustic. Titles include the classics "Shoot Me Dead", "If You Hold a Stone", "Maria Bethania", "In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day", and "London, London" – plus a cover of "Asa Branca". CD

An extremely poetic little set from Caetano Veloso – very personal, and with some nice play with language on some of the album's best tracks – almost recalling his best intimate moments of the 70s! A few tracks are a bit more upbeat – with keyboards and a bit more electricity – but most of the record really sparkles when Caetano keeps it cool – mostly using acoustic guitar in the background, and letting the raspy brilliance of his voice come to the forefront of the mix. Maria Bethania guests on two tracks – and titles include "Eclipse Oculto", "Voce E Linda", "Quero Ir A Cuba", "Coisa Mais Linda", "Salva Vida", and "Uns". CD

Includes tracks by Dick Farney, Maria Bethania, Carlos Galhardo, Miltinho, Francisco Carlos, Tamba Trio, Angela Maria, Dorival Caymmi, Nelson Goncalves, Anjos Do Inferno, and Nana Caymmi & Dorival Caymmi, CD

Includes 21 tracks by Pixinguinha & Benedicto Lacerda, Jacod de Bandolin, Martinho Da Villa, Nelson Goncalves, Carmen Miranda, Luiz Gonzaga, Alcone & Maria Bethania, and more. Compiled by Jun Takemura. CD