2 of the earliest albums ever from bossa genius Carlos Lyra – back to back on one CD! The first album, Bossa Nova, definitely lives up to its title – as it features Lyra's wonderful original compositions wrapped around a set of orchestrations that are lightly breezy, and which dance with a slight hint of jazz that often comes from the use of acoustic guitar or vibes on some tracks. The format's similar to some of Joao Gilberto's work of the time – and backings are by Carlos Monteiro De Souza. Titles are all originals by Lyra, and include "O Bem Do Amor", "Chora Tua Tristeza", "Ciume", "Barquinho De Papel", "Rapaz De Bem", "Gosto De Voce", and "Menina". The CD features a whole other album of bonus tracks as well – the similar session Carlos Lyra, also from 1960 – another showcase for Lyra's wonderful skills as a writer! The arrangements on that set are similar, and titles include "Nos Dois", "Mister Golden", "Nada Como Ter Amor", "Vem Do Amor", "Aonde Andou Voce", "De Quem Ama", and "Primeira Namorada". 26 tracks in all! CD

2 later gems from Carlos Lyra – back to back on one CD! First up is E No Entanto E Preciso Cantar – a wonderful 70s session from bossa legend Lyra, and a set that's got a different sound than some of his earlier work – but one that's still plenty great overall! The mode is a bit more subdued than before – still with bossa at the roots, but also production and instrumentation that nod a bit more towards the singer/songwriter generation of the time – almost with a European feel at time. Roberto Menescal produced, and arrangements by Theo Barros have a slow-building, unassuming quality that's really great. Chico Buarque guests on the groover "Essa Passou", and other titles include "Identidade", "Rio Vermelho", "Primavera", "O Pregoeiro", "Ate Parece", and "I See Me Passing By". Eu & Elas is from a few years later, but equally great – never too full or overdone, with arrangements that still shadow a bit of older bossa orchestrations, but which are a bit more laidback and intimate overall. The sound is incredible, and Lyra's vocals are recorded in that flanged-out way that was used beautifully in Brazil at the time – spread speaker to speaker with a closeness that we really love. Titles include "Elas", "Isabel", "Despedida", "O Amor Mais Triste", and "Nothing Night". CD

A great collection with 17 tracks including "Quando chegares", "Minha namorada", "Feio nao e bonito", "O negocio e amar" and "Influencia da jazz". CD

A great session by Carlos Lyra – recorded a few years after his bossa-era classics, but with a very similar feel! Carlos' vocals and guitar are as wonderful as ever – soft and gentle, with the right touch of sad emotion, but still the slight jazzy swing that's always made his work so great. The session was actually recorded in Mexico – and is one of Lyra's rarest albums – and in a way, the whole thing's even more unique than some of his better-known classics from earlier years! Titles include "El Jacal", "Blanaceo", "Vacilada", "Para No Decir Adios", "Lugar Bonito", and "Viene Del Amor". CD

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An excellent later album from Carlos Lyra – very different from his 60s work, with a sweet electric feel we really like! The album's got some great use of electric piano – gliding along behind Carlos' vocals with a jazzy edge – all supported by light strings that soar nicely, and support Carlos' warm voice as he sings on a fantastic set of gentle groovers. Really really cool work – with the feel of mid 70s albums by Johnny Alf or Joao Dontao – not really an update of the bossa, but 70s electric work imbued with the spirit of an earlier generation, turning its face to a newer age! Titles include "Amanda", "Pulsars", "Canaa", "O Mutilado", and "Rancho Em Branco E Preto". CD

Forget all of those weak Jobim tributes that have been put out by record companies in the US whenever they can get 3 or 4 bossa-minded players to record in a sleepy nightclub! This is the real deal: a 5 volume set dedicated to the master Brazilian composer/singer/songwriter – with all tracks recorded fresh, in the studio, by some of the greatest Brazilian musicians of the past 30 years! This first volume has a wonderful fresh jazzy feel, and features a lot of great vocal performances – all sung in the original Portuguese. Tracks include "Fotografia" by Carlos Lyra, "Correnteza" by Edu Lobo, "Querida" by Miucha, "Triste" by Johnny Alf, "Piano Na Mangueira" by Quarteto Em Cy, "Olha Pro Ceu" by Leny Andrade, and "So Danco Samba" by Joao Donato. 15 tracks in all. CD

A rare bossa treasure from the early years of the genre – a wicked session that features instrumentation by Oscar Castro Neves, and vocals by a host of different singers! The set's half vocal, half instrumental – and the latter feature some great sounds from Oscar's combo – a group that plays with a sound that's airy, yet well-arranged – similar to some of the 60s work by Eumir Deodato or Os Gatos, but with less instrumentation overall – which makes for an even cooler sound! There's some great flute in the group, which sounds great next to the acoustic guitar – and the instrumentation for the vocal tracks is equally nice, and still really revolutionary for the time. The album's a beautiful balance between complexity and understatement – truly showing the bossa ethos at its best – and titles include "Patinho Feio" and "Com Voce" by Lais, "Pela Luz Dos Olhos Teus" by Vinicius De Moraes, "Obrigada Meu Bem" by Sylvia Telles, "Tem Do De Mim" by Carlos Lyra, and "Menina Feia" by Lucio Alves – plus "Meditacao", "So Em Teus Bracos", "Bim Bom", and "Chora Tua Tristeza" by Castro Neves and his combo. CD

A beautiful album from Miucha – the lovely bossa singer who recorded a few albums with Tom Jobim at the end of the 70s! The album's a much more mature effort than those records – with Miucha in the lead as a sophisticated, mature singer – working through a set of tracks that features tunes by some of Brazil's greatest composers – Edu Lobo, Carlos Lyra, Joao Donato, and others. Titles include "Voce Voce", "A Dor A Mais", "Vento Levou", "Refem Da Solidao", "Tempo De Amar", "Solidao", "Cor De Cinza", "Pode Ir", "Fox E Trote", and "Cancao Inedita". CD

Music from Herivelto Martins, Demonios Da Garoa, Jamelao, Tupy De Braz De Pina, Zezinho, Jurandir da Mangueira, Astor E Orquestra, Lucio Alves, Ataulfo Alves, Carlos Lyra, Dorival Caymmi, Al Caiola, Alaide Costa, Dorival Caymmi, and more. CD

A rare bossa treasure from the early years of the genre – a wicked session that features instrumentation by Oscar Castro Neves, and vocals by a host of different singers! The set's half vocal, half instrumental – and the latter feature some great sounds from Oscar's combo – a group that plays with a sound that's airy, yet well-arranged – similar to some of the 60s work by Eumir Deodato or Os Gatos, but with less instrumentation overall – which makes for an even cooler sound! There's some great flute in the group, which sounds great next to the acoustic guitar – and the instrumentation for the vocal tracks is equally nice, and still really revolutionary for the time. The album's a beautiful balance between complexity and understatement – truly showing the bossa ethos at its best – and titles include "Patinho Feio" and "Com Voce" by Lais, "Pela Luz Dos Olhos Teus" by Vinicius De Moraes, "Obrigada Meu Bem" by Sylvia Telles, "Tem Do De Mim" by Carlos Lyra, and "Menina Feia" by Lucio Alves – plus "Meditacao", "So Em Teus Bracos", "Bim Bom", and "Chora Tua Tristeza" by Castro Neves and his combo. CD