Rica Amabis "Sambadelic" (YBrazil?, 2000)
Electronica and DJ mixing have taken firm root in Brazil, echoing the mix-and-match syncretism that inspired the tropicalia scene back in the late '60s. The classics of multiple genres -- including old tropicalia -- now provide rich fodder for remixes and radical reworkings, as this new disc demonstrates. Forro legend Luiz Gonzaga, funk pioneer Tim Maia, old-school sambista Ataulfo Alves and the classic "A Falsa Baiana" all wind up in the mix here, as singer Andrea Marquee and a slew of Paulista compatriots pitch in. Overall the drum'n'bass based mixing seems a little rigid, though even with the lack of flow there are some surprising moments. For those looking for more examples of contemporary mixing to join the few records to hit our shores -- such as Suba, Otto and Bebel Gilberto -- this disc is certainly worth checking out.
Marcos Amorim Trio "Cris On The Farm" (Adventure Music, 2003)
A mellow set of jazz/acoustic guitar work, which ranges from moments of Pat Metheny-ish echo to bouncier, Baden Powell-esque romps and quieter, more exploratatory moods. It's pretty nice. Amorim is joined by bassist Ney Conceicao and the ever-ubiquitous Robertinho Silva on percussion... A quiet, compact trio that lets the guitar stay front and center.
Marcos Amorim "Sete Capelas" (Adventure Music, 2006)
As a rule, I'm not a big fan of modern soft jazz, but this is quite a lovely record. Brazilian guitarist Marcos Amorim is consistently inventive and engaging on this pretty-sounding, melodically based album, crafting mellow space-out music that never lapses into pure gooeyness or by-the-numbers smooth jazz conventions. Only toward the end of the disc do a few songs get too gooey for me, but on the whole this was a very nice record to have on... Mainstream jazz fans, New Agers and new acoustic listeners will all find something to love about this album; possibly neo-folkies will as well. Worth checking out!
Leny Andrade - see artist discography
Nelson Angelo & Joyce "Nelson Angelo E Joyce" (Odeon, 1972)
A spacy, psychedelic-tinged acoustic album combining the talents of these two young guitarists... This is very similar in tone and style to Milton Nascimento's famous Clube Da Esquina album - full of drifting, open-ended improvs. It's a little too amorphous for my tastes, but holds up to a few good listens. She, of course, had a lovely voice, although the emphasis here is mainly on the instruments. Worth checking out. (For more information, also check out my Joyce discography.)
Nelson Angelo "Mar De Mineiro" (MCD, 2002)
Nelson Angelo "Caterete" (Adventure Music, 2003)
Veteran '70s fusioneer Nelson Angelo stays very, very true to his roots, which is to say that this record, despite some pretty-sounding lyrical passages, is wa-a-a-a-ayyyy too noodly for me. However, if you like noodly, soft jazz with a bossa nova twist, you might really enjoy this album. It got on my nerves really quickly, though.
Anjos Do Inferno "Os Grandes Sucessos" (RCA, 1963)
A wonderful twelve-song retrospective of one of the greatest vocal groups from Brazil's golden era of "radio singers" (in the 1930s and '40s). Anjos Do Inferno were one of the groups that all others were measured against, and on these lively classic recordings you can see why. This includes their creative 1947 arrangement of Ary Barroso's "Aquarele Do Brasil," along with other songs that ably showcase their tight, inventive harmonies. There is also a lot of material, particularly from the early 1950s when the group was in decline, that has a distinctly non-Brazilian feel to it: the collection opens with "Perdida," a romantic bolero that has a distinct Cuban twang to it; later, on "Tu Solo Tu," they sing a straight-up, Spanish-language, Mexican-style ranchera tune. Presumably they were in search of an audience in the Spanish-speaking world, and though they did sound great on this sort of material, they sounded a lot better singing sambas. At any rate, this is a wonderful record, and well worth picking up if you want to check out the world of pre-bossa nova Brazilian pop.
Anjos Do Inferno "Brasil Pandiero" (RCA, 1963)
Anjos Do Inferno dissolved in the early 1950s, but briefly reformed to record this album. The perky arrangements are generally a bit rinky-dink, but within a song or two, the band will win you over with their smooth, good-natured approach. Side One of the original album was devoted exclusively to songs by Dorival Caymmi, the preeminent songwriter of his time, and which the Anjos originally recorded in the early 1940s. Side Two makes room for other equally groovy samba composers, with songs that also date back to the prewar years of the early 'Forties. It's quaint, and effective if you can get past the blithe, by-the-numbers feel of the orchestration.
Arnaldo Antunes - see artist discography
