This is a listing of miscellaneous albums and artists under the letter "W"
If an artist or album you like is not reviewed here, please feel free
to contact me and make a suggestion.
Wanderlea - see artist discography
Walter Wanderley - see artist discography
Wando "Gloria A Deus No Ceu E Samba Na Terra" (Beverly, 1973)
Wando "Wando" (Copacabana, 1975)
Really nice stuff. Although Wando is associated with the maudlin "brega" ("schmaltzy") pop ballad style, this early album is actually fairly vigorous, full of smooth, lightly funky MPB ballads very much in the style of Chico Buarque or Joao Bosco. Understated and quite pleasant to listen to... I'm curious to find out more about this guy! In the meantime, I'll enjoy this album and keep my eyes peeled for others!
Wando "Porta Do Sol" (Beverly, 1976)
Wando "Ilusao" (Beverly, 1977)
Wando "Gosto De Maca" (Copacabana, 1978)
Wando "Gazela" (Copacabana, 1979)
Wando "Bem-Vindo" (Philips, 1980)
Wando "Bahia" (Saludos Amigos, 2000)
Paul Winter Sextet "Jazz Meets The Bossa Nova" (Columbia, 1962)
Saxophonist Paul Winter has devoted a sizeable chunk of his career to promoting and exploring Brazilian (and later, African) music. Although he gets points for flying his band down to Rio and getting in on the Brazil action early in the game, this is much more of a standard-issue jazz album than it is a bossa nova crossover. In fact, it's mainly latin-jazz, and commonplace stuff at that, although on a couple of tracks, the drummer musters up a pretty good samba beat.
Paul Winter & Carlos Lyra "The Sound Of Ipanema" (Columbia, 1964)
Now, this is more like it! His accompaniment here is understated, though a bit staid. What makes this record so sweet is Carlos Lyra's gorgeous guitar and intimate vocals, as well as all the great songs he wrote. Sergio Mendes and Milton Banana sit in on piano and drums, respectively, and though Winter is slightly less swinging than the "authentic" bossa musicians, this is quite a nice little record. Recommended!
Paul Winter "Rio" (Columbia, 1965)
Here, Winter's explorations into bossa nova continue. But even with the contributions of Luiz Eca, Roberto Menescal and Luis Bonfa, this album is merely soporific, having settled into soft jazz. It lacks spark and sparkle of his earlier album, though it's still worth checking out.
Brazilian Music - Letter "X"
Main Brazil Index
World Music Index
