A record that's as striking as the image on the cover – a wonderful set that mixes the soulful vocals of the great Elza Soares with some larger samba backings from Oswaldo Borba – a leader we don't know at all, but who really knocks it out of the park on the set! Elza always seems to do best in settings that have a more unique sort of hybrid – the less-traditional modes that EMI/Odeon was using to really transform Brazilian music during this generation! The record's subtitle refers to "a bossa negra de Elza Soares", and the groove's definitely the main force that makes the record so strong – as you'll hear on titles that include "Era Bom", "Teleco-Teco No 2", "Cartao De Visita", "Sal E Pimenta", "Dedo Duro", and "Samba Em Copa". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Ary Barroso was the godfather of Brazilian popular song in the years before the big bossa composers, and his work has had a lasting impression upon Brazilian music that extends strongly into the present. Volume 1 is only the tip of the 3-volume iceberg of his work – and it features some of the best interpretations of his classic tunes that we've ever heard! All material is exclusive to the disc, and the set's filled with warm wonderful performances by the likes of Tom Jobim, Edu Lobo, Joyce, Paulinho Da Viola, Gal Costa, Joao Bosco, O Trio, Amelia Rabello, Dori Caymmi, Elza Soares, Caetano Veloso, and others. And that's just volume 1, too! CD

Beautiful! Joao Donato has long been one of our favorite-ever Brazilian songwriters, and this tasty series from Lumiar finally pays him the rich tribute he deserves! The series, like the others on Lumiar, features some of Brazil's greatest artists ever, paying tribute to Donato with loving renditions of his best songs. This third volume features "Lugar Comum" by Leny Andrade, "Minha Saudade" by Gilberto Gil, "Everyday" by Ed Motta & Joao Donato, "Luo Dourada" by Os Cariocas & Joao Donato, "Fonta Da Saudade" by Elza Soares, "A Paz" by Rosa Passos, "Depois Do Natal" by Djavan & Joao Donato. CD

A very Brazilian best of compilation – and in a good way – with a few originals by Rodrigues, plus versions by other artists including Elis Regina, Beth Carvalho, Elza Soares, Roberto Luna, and Jamelao. That said, the real prize is the magazine – and this is true even if you don't read Portuguese – since it comes with lots of photos, plus essays covering the artist's career. And hey, there's always Google Translate! CD

It's no secret that Brazilian musicians have always had a special place for the music of the Gershwins and Cole Porter – as Brazilian singers through most of the 20th Century have performed work by these composers, which always seem to adapt very nicely to Brazilian styles of jazz and pop arrangement. This 14 track set explores the tradition in a wonderful way – by bringing together some of Brazil's best singers to pay tribute to the composers, in a similar style to that used on the recent Lumiar tribute albums. All the songs are translated into Portuguese, which sounds lovely – and the CD features work by Ed Motta, Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Elza Soares, Jane Duboc, Sandra De Sa, and others. CD

A very cool little set – one that takes off from the later years of the 70s samba soul generation in Brazil, and shows some of the funky changes that took place as the years went on! Junior Santos gave us the Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds collection on Favorite Records – and this set follows nicely from the spirit of that set – opening up our ears to work past the more-reissued 70s generation – on titles that include "Chuva De Beijos" by Beto Luiz, "Mais Que Um Momento" by Emilio Santiago, "Som Amor Trabalho E Progresso" by Elza Soares, "Nago" by Carlinhos Santos E Grupo Ceu, "Pungar" by Gerude, "Fofa" by San Rodrigues, and "Por Isso Eu Canto" by Sonia Burnier. LP, Vinyl record album

The second volume in Som Livre's series of samba tracks – featuring a selection of tunes that rework a classic samba sound into a modern groove that shows the evolution of the genre within popular audiences in Brazil. It's tracks like this that demonstrate how and why the samba's stayed alive through the past two decades – when more traditional styles in other countries have gone by the wayside – and the set shows the way that older samba playing and singing is mixed with popular instrumental elements in a more modern tone. Titles include "Anjo Dourado" by Banda Raca Negra, "Samba" by Grupo Fundo De Quintal, "Deixa Eu Te Amar" by Dhema, "Flor Do Quere" by Grupo Feitico, "Alvara" by Jorge Aragao, "Pagode Dom Dom" by Terra Samba, and a pot-pourri of tunes by Elza Soares. 14 tracks in all. CD

A collection of duets recorded by Chico Buarque during the 80s and 90s – warm extensions of musical friendship by one of Brazil's greatest singers of the past 40 years. Chico's always been supportive of singers in many generations – from the older artists who inspired him in the 60s, to younger talents he's encountered as his career has progressed. The set's a good overview of that support – and features a total of 14 tracks in all, including "Facamos" with Elza Soares, "Desalento" with Mestre Marcal, "Sem Voce" with Tom Jobim, "Dueto" with Nara Leao, "Ate Pensei" with Nana Caymmi, "Seu Chopin, Descumpe" with Johnny Alf, "Carcara" with Joao Do Vale, "Dinheiro Em Penca" with Miucha, "Nao Sonho Mais" with Elba Ramalho, and "Yolanda" with Pablo Milanes. CD

One of the best collections of samba tunes we could hope to recommend – largely because the set's got a really expansive take on the genre! Unlike most of the straighter samba sets we stock, this one has the genre interpreted by a wide range of artists – mostly Brazilian, but a lot of them not artists normally associated with the samba sound. In addition, there's a nice jazzy component running through the tracks – a bit warmer and smoother than some of the more traditional samba work, but one that makes for a sound that's really sunny and appealing overall! Most tracks are pulled from the EMI/Odeon catalog of the 60s and 70s – and the set's got a total of 28 tracks that include "Tem Do" by Wanda De Sah, "Tristeza" by Elza Soares, "Cai Cai" by Wilson Simonal, "Sandalia Dela" by Duke Pearson, "Roda" by Conjunto 3D, "Madalena" by Tania Maria, "A Ra" by Joao Donato, "Me Criei Na Beira Mar" by Ely Arcoverde, "Sai Dessa" by Elis Regina, "Desesperar Jamais" by Viva Voz, "Moon River" by Eva, and "Noites Cariocas" by Deo Rian. CD

The sound of funky 70s Brazil! This excellent compilation brings together 16 lost funk and soul tunes from 70s Brazil – tracks inspired by American groups of the time, but touched with uniquely Brazilian influences that make them well worth discovering today. A few of these groups have shown up over the years on other reissues we've got here at Dusty Groove – but the quality of the overall set is excellent, really one of the first full explorations of this scene that we've ever stocked! And even though the package is put out by the remix-heavy Six Degrees label, rest assured that the tracks you'll hear on here are the real thing – all original gems from the classic heavy 70s scene! Titles include "Cosa Nostra" by Erlon Chaves, "Homenagem A Mongo" by Som Tres, "Nego Dito" by Branca Di Neve, "A Vida Em Seus Metodos Diz Calma" by Di Melo, "Mane Joao" by Wanderlea, "Saltei De Banda" by Elza Soares, "Jogaram O Caxanga" by De Savoya Combo, "Que Nega E Essa" by Trio Mocoto, and "Nao Vem Que Nao Tem" by Wilson Simonal. CD