Luis Vagner "Luis Vagner" (Copacabana, 1976)
Well look, I know on an intellectual level that this is pretty bad music... As the album opens, guitarist Luis Vagner, known for his studio work with various artists, zonks his way through a sometimes-slick, sometimes-spaced out set of goopy, loosey-goosey soft rock, adding some of the most generic, unmoving electric guitar licks you'll ever hear... There's also a slight sheen of the disco production sound of the day, making this album sound something like the lost lovechild of Barry Manilow and Stevie Vai. It's very dorky, but somehow very heartfelt and sincere. Vagner seems so earnest about what he's doing, it's hard not to find yourself rooting for him on some level. Then, a little deeper into the album, something clicks into place and the disc gains some substance. On "Corcoveia," the fourth track, some Brazilian-ness asserts itself, and the album loosens up and gets kinda funky. The good vibes aren't sustained long, but this disc does have its moments. I guess I'd have to classify this as (ulp!) a sort of a guilty pleasure.
Luis Vagner "Swingante" (Paradoxx, 2004)
Luis Vagner "Brasil Afro Surrealista" (Obi Music, 2006)
Alceu Valenca - see artist discography
Marcos Valle - see artist discography
Geraldo Vandre - see artist discography
Vanusa "20 Super Sucessos" (Sony, 1999)
Negligible latter-day re-recordings of old jovem guarda teen-rock hits from the 1960s. These versions are musically solid and professional sounding, but what's the point, really? The appeal of the originals was Vanusa's youth and perkiness, as well as the inherent dorkiness of the ie-ie-ie scene; hearing a more mature woman sing them, with modernized pop-rock arrangements, kind of defeats the purpose. Look for the originals, instead.
Paulo Vanzolini "Por Ele Mesmo" (Eldorado , 1979)
A sweet acoustic set by Sao Paulo samba composer Paulo Vanzolini, a compatriot of Elton Medeiros, Paulinho Nogueira, Toquinho and others, and whose work was popular throughout the 1960s and '70s... This album opens a little on the sugary, lush side, but soon settles into a reserved, classy sound. Although there are several tribute albums from various sources, this is apparently the only album that Vanzolini released under his own name. Nice stuff!
Renato Vargas "O Som Do Barzinho" (Philips, 1998)
I'm sure Vargas is a bit of a lesser light in the novo bossa nova scene, but this live acoustic album, where he leads a singalong chorus through some of the best-beloved tunes in the Brazilian canon, is pretty darn nice. Not innovative, but beautiful. Here's his website.
Renato Vargas "O Som Do Barzinho, v.2" (Universal/Deck Disc, 1998)
Renato Vargas "O Som Do Barzinho, v.3" (Universal/Deck Disc, 1998)
Renato Vargas "O Som Do Barzinho, v.4" (Universal/Deck Disc, 2000)
(Produced by Joao Augusto & Pepe)
Another nice, thoroughly enjoyable volume in this curious series of singalong MPB albums. Vargas sings classics by Joao Bosco, Chico Buarque, Paulinho Da Viola, Tom Jobim and others, and the audience cheerfully sings along. Brazilian karaoke is, apparently, a participatory live event... Be kinda fun to go to one of these shows!
Renato Vargas "O Som Do Barzinho, v.5" (Universal/Deck Disc, 2000)
(Produced by Joao Augusto & Pepe)
I'm starting to really like these records... they're kinda silly, but they're fun!
Andre Vasconcellos "Observatorio" (Visom, 2004)
Andre Vasconcellos "2" (Adventure Music, 2011)
(Produced by Andre Vasconcellos)
Sort of standard-issue jazz stuff, played by a mostly-Brazilian ensemble, backing bassist Andre Vasconcellos... Not sure that I hear much here that's particularly "Brazilian," but that could just be a result of my personal limitations.
Nana Vasconcelos - see artist discography
