Passarinho Urbano
In 1975, Joyce Moreno, who had just wrapped up a tour with legendary Brazilian composer Vinicius de Moraes, found herself in a studio with producer Sergio Bardotti in Rome, Italy. She had been taking a break from writing and she decided to pick up a selection of her favorite compositions from contemporary Brazilian writers who‘s songs were beacons of hope in times of an ongoing intense Military leadership in her home country. Unlike their previous albums, these recordings live from their reducti…
Visions of Dawn
Recorded in Paris, in 1976, Visions of Dawn is the stunning ‘lost’ Brazilian acid-folk album by Joyce, Nana Vasconcelos and Mauricio Maestro. First uncovered and released in 2009, the record transfixed Brazilian music lovers and fans of otherworldly psych-folk alike. Led by the sharp lyrics and gorgeous voice of a young Joyce Moreno, the trio is completed by the late great Brazilian percussion legend Nana Vasconcelos, and master arranger, producer and bassist Mauricio Maestro.
These beautiful re…
A Bossa Muito Moderna
Reissue, originally released in 1963. Pianist and arranger João Donato was a major figure in the bossa nova movement. During his long career he recorded with many of the great names from both Brazilian and American Latin-jazz scene (Tom Jobim, Ron Carter, Airto Moreira, E. Deodato, Randy Brecker, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, and several others). First released in 1963, this is a marvelous example of bossa jazz album featuring the highly syncopated drums grooves of Milton Banana and…
Apresentando Baden Powell E Seu Violão
Recorded in Rio de Janeiro in 1959 and originally released on Phillips in 1960, this was Baden Powel's debut album. Baden Powel has been one of the most celebrated figures in Brazilian music. A technically proficient guitarist and highly sophisticated composer who managed to integrate classical techniques with both popular and Jazz harmonies. Backed here by Monteiro De Souza's orchestra, Powell displays fascinating renditions of tunes from the American songbook such as "Stella by Starlight", "My…
Carolina
Carolina is the Brazilian virtuoso Seu Jorge's debut full-length album from 2002. Originally released under the title ‘Samba Esporte Fino’, its release and subsequent international acclaim dovetailed with Seu Jorge’s ascent into movie stardom. He is probably best known outside of Brazil for his work on Wes Anderson’s 2004 film 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’, in which he played a starring role and his Portuguese covers of David Bowie records were a highlight of the soundtrack. Having initia…
Tempo de Fratura
Hailing from the Brazilian North East, Alcides Neves released his debut album a few years after moving to São Paulo, in 1979. The LP’s release coincided with the emergence of the city’s seminal Vanguarda Paulista movement, which led some researchers to locate Alcides within the movement. As the artist himself affirms; however, he did not fit into any established musical movements, and while it is perhaps possible to identify some influences, it is not possible to consider his music as belonging …
Fôrça Bruta
The combination of Jorge Ben and Trio Mocotó had already produced great things when Força Bruta first appeared in 1970. Ben's self-titled album of the year before had reeled off a succession of Brazilian hits, including "País Tropical" and "Cadê Teresa," and made the four musicians very busy as a result. Força Bruta was a slightly different album, a slice of mellow samba soul that may perhaps have been the result of such a hectic schedule during 1969. One of the hidden gems in Jorge Ben's discog…
Os Brazões
*2022 stock.* Rare and highly sought after in its original format, Os Brazoes self-titled album was originally released on RGE Discos in 1969. It is a psychedelic masterpiece that fuses samba, r’n’b and rock ’n’ roll influences using fuzz guitars, synths, percussion, lush vocals and effects.
Os Brazoes formed in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1960’s. They backed Gal Costa during her Tropicalia period, yet apparently never recorded in the studio with her. Miguel de Deus, the bands front man, recorded…
Alucinolândia
Some things take time to happen, some things perhaps take a bit longer than they should but, finally, we are delighted to present an issue of the iconic, and sought-after, Brazilian album 'Alucinolândia' by Zito Righi e Seu Conjunto from 1969. The trippy, surrealist 60s cover design with hands holding eyeballs is somewhat confusing. Rather than the stoner acid rock record that the art may suggest, 'Alucinolândia' is actually a quintessential 60s gem, mixing samba, MPB, bossa nova, quirky organ-l…
Tim Maia 1973
*In process of stocking* An icon of Brazilian popular music, Tim Maia was a musical polymath and prolific recording artist best known for introducing American soul to the Brazilian music scene, pioneering the sambalanço style by blending elements of soul, funk, rock, and samba. Maia recorded four self-titled albums for Polydor Brazil, this fourth release from 1973 arguably the best, with its outstanding hits ‘Réu Confesso’ and ‘Gostava Tanto de Você’; ‘Do Your Thing, Behave Yourself’ shows how t…
Previsao Do Tempo
Ten years after Marcos Valle’s debut long player (Samba Demais) introduced Brazilian music lovers to the immense talents of the Valle brothers, a new direction and backing band helped the singer expand his musical palette. Showcasing a groovy funk and jazz-fusion influence with help from then current backing band Azimuth (later known as Azymuth), synthesizers, Fender Rhodes, and electronic sounds took Valle’s samba, bossa nova, baião (a rhythmic beat from the rural northeast of Brazil), along wi…