The Composer Of Desafinado, Plays
Recorded in 1963, The Composer of Desafinado Plays documents the beginning of what would become a long-term creative relationship between Jobim and arranger Claus Ogerman. Although there was initial resistance by producers, Jobim not only plays guitar but piano as well in his debut for Verve. Jobim is joined by George Duvivier (bass), Edison Machado (drums), Leo Wright (flute), Jimmy Cleveland (trombone) and full strings on the 12-song instrumental set that features such bossa nova classics as “…
Samba '68
“Samba ’68“ is the only album released on the Verve label by prolific Brazilian singer Marcos Valle. In 1968, Valle was commissioned by Verve to record his Brazilian hits in English in order to capitalize on the then-huge Getz-Gilberto-Jobim-Mendes-Astrud market. Marcos’ rapid and stunning artistic growth is apparent on this brilliant Bossa Nova album. Fans of Sérgio Mendes and Astrud Gilberto (both of whom recorded tons of Valle tunes) will enjoy it immensely, for “Samba ’68” is definitely one …
Negro É Lindo
"1971 is a complicated year in Brazil, with the dictatorship in its hardest period, and the censorship acting in every part of the culture. In this context Negro é Lindo was released: a LP in which Jorge Ben adopts an artistic form of confrontation. In the lyrics you can see Cassius Marcelus Clay aka Muhammad Ali taking the space of Spiderman or Captain America, and the beauty of black people in tunes like Cigana, Zula, and the title track. The name Negro é Lindo means Black is Beautiful, an emp…
O Compositor E O Cantor
Marcos Valle is one of those artists you simply can’t overlook if you have even a passing interest in Brazilian music. Whether your taste leans toward bossa jazz, samba, psychedelic folk, or modern soul, Valle has surely recorded a great album for you. By the late 1960s he had already released enough outstanding records to secure a place among the greatest Brazilian artists of all time, but fortunately his career didn’t stop there. He has continued recording fabulous albums over the following de…
Elis
On Elis, Elis Regina crystallises everything that made her singular: a precision‑tooled voice riding the fault line between control and abandon, bringing samba, MPB and jazz‑tinged arrangements to a rolling boil of drama and nuance.
Vida
On Vida, Chico Buarque folds everyday scenes, political undercurrents and bruised intimacy into a suite of songs where conversational melodies and sly, shifting harmonies turn ordinary lives into quietly explosive dramas.
Louvaçao
On Louvação, Gilberto Gil fuses Afro‑Bahian rhythms, Northeastern folk and sleek mid‑60s modernism into a luminous songbook where liturgical overtones, street poetry and swinging arrangements announce a new, restless MPB imagination.
Domingo
Domingo is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Brazilian singers Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa, released in 1967 by the renowned Polydor label. This album captures the essence of traditional bossa nova, presenting smooth melodies and sophisticated rhythms that define the genre's timeless appeal. Although Domingo predates the tropicalist movement that Caetano Veloso would later champion, it offers a captivating glimpse into the early artistry and vocal interplay between two of Brazil’s mos…
Nara
Originally released in Brazil in 1963, "Nara" marks the stunning debut of Nara Leão, an artist celebrated as the Muse of Bossa Nova. This remarkable album has been reissued, inviting a new generation to experience the charm and elegance that defined an era. "Nara" represents a profound artistic statement, showcasing a tapestry of Brazilian music steeped in warmth and emotion. The album features exquisite arrangements crafted from solid compositions by legendary names, including Edu Lobo, Viniciu…
Tim Maia 1970
Father of Brazilian soul music, Tim Maia needs no introduction, as he is one of the greatest artists in Brazilian music. From his debut album, self-titled and released in 1970, it was clear he was destined to become a legend. Considered one of the 100 best albums in the national discography, the record returns to shelves just like the original, as part of the “Classics on Vinyl” collection from Polysom, licensed by Universal.
En Mexico
A hidden gem from bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto resurfaces with the reissue of 1970 En México, capturing the artist in artistic exile during his time in Mexico City. This intimate album blends timeless Brazilian classics, sultry boleros, and jazz standards, all filtered through Gilberto’s signature whisper-soft vocals and minimalist guitar accompaniment.
Recorded live in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, En México showcases Gilberto’s unparalleled ability to transcend borders. Standout tracks…
Gal Costa
A lot changed between Gal Costa's pleasantly straightforward 1967 debut Domingo and her eponymous follow-up two years later. Domingo, also a debut for young Brazilian songwriter Caetano Veloso, featured a set of airy, somewhat standard bossa nova tunes, sung ably by Costa. Mere months after the release of this relatively safe debut, however, Costa and Veloso found themselves alongside Os Mutantes, Tom Zé, and Gilberto Gil, recording contributions to Tropicália: Ou Panis et Circencis, the unoffic…
Tim Maia 1973
Tim Maia’s self-titled 1973 album is one of those records that hits you from the very first groove and doesn’t let go. Originally released on Polydor Brazil, this was the fourth in a series of Tim’s self-titled albums and many fans and critics still consider it the crown jewel. Packed with irresistible hooks, lush arrangements, and that unmistakable Tim Maia swagger, the album captures the singer at the peak of his creative powers. If you’re new to Tim Maia, here’s the quick story: born in Rio d…
Quarteto Em Cy
Originally released in 1972 on the Odeon label, Quarteto Em Cy stands as a high-water mark in the group’s prolific discography—and a hidden gem for collectors of Brazilian vinyl. Known for their intricate vocal harmonies and deep roots in the bossa nova movement, the quartet ventures into post-bossa territory here, where sophistication meets groove in all the right ways.Arrangements by Edu Lobo and Luiz Eça (of Tamba Trio) lend the album a richly layered sound—elegant, jazzy, and emotionally res…
Gal
*2025 repress* After Caetano Veloso broke out with his solo debut, the self-titled 1968 release recognized as the building block for the now infamous Brazilian Tropicalia movement, his friends and musical peers released similar albums, always upping the ante in terms of outrageousness and inventiveness. This release, the second of two self-titled albums released by Gal Costa in 1969, set the high watermark in terms of overall insanity and complete experimental freedom for the entire lot; not Vel…
Milton
“Milton,” the fourth studio album from groundbreaking Brazilian artist Milton Nascimento, emerged in 1970 as a pivotal moment for the Minas Gerais music scene. Released in partnership with the progressive rock band Som Imaginário, this landmark record continues to inspire generations, both for its audacious blending of genres and its trailblazing studio innovations.
Renowned for its rich instrumentation and stylistic diversity, “Milton” laid the essential groundwork for Nascimento’s subsequent m…
Marcos Valle
Internationally acclaimed Brazilian composer, musician, and singer Marcos Valle proudly reintroduces his self-titled album, "Marcos Valle," a vibrant testament to the artist's unmatched influence on global music and the Brazilian soundscape.
Marcos Valle, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1943, has traversed an extraordinary musical journey—from his classic bossa nova roots to inventive fusions with soul, funk, rock, and jazz. His self-titled album, originally released in the 1980s, marked a pivotal ret…
Caetano Veloso
Originally released in 1968, Caetano Veloso's debut album did for Brazilian music what the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers did for rock & roll, giving birth to the soon-to-be Tropicalia movement, which fused Brazilian music with pop, psychedelia and social awareness (and Veloso's leftist politics actually earned him a stint in jail in 1968 for 'anti-government activity'). Veloso, nonetheless went on to become one of the most popular and influential Brazilian musicians of all time. Includes the genre-defin…
The Wonderful World of Antonio Carlos Jobim
Elemental Music proudly presents the reissue of The Wonderful World of Antonio Carlos Jobim, a timeless recording that celebrates the artistry and influence of one of Brazil’s greatest musical icons. Originally released in 1965, this classic album showcases Jobim’s unique ability to merge the sophistication of orchestral arrangements with the delicate sensuality of bossa nova, a genre he helped define and bring to international acclaim.
Produced at the height of the global bossa nova wave, The…
Amoroso
When this album landed on the turntables in 1977, João Gilberto, the Nestor and father of bossa nova, had long enjoyed praise for his life’s work which was still far from complete. His straightforward, sometimes dry and rasping voice sounds out distinctively in the mezzo piano and forges his totally unique and personal style of playing Latin jazz with international appeal. With "Wave", "Triste", "Caminhos Cruzados" and "Zingaro" he brings together on this LP four splendid numbers by his congenia…