Jamelao "Aqui Mora O Ritmo" (Continental/Warner, 1964)
Jose Bispo Clementino Dos Santos, aka Jamelao, played old-school gafeira jazz -- swinging samba, but with an unusual, almost un-Brazilian twist. The punchy, big band-ish horn charts have a density that's similar to Stan Kenton and other highbrow jazzmen of the 'Fifties; Jamelao's vocals have a throatiness that has more in common with Cuban guaracheros such as Cascarita and Beny More than with homegrown heros like Dick Farney or Lucio Alves. Jamelao's affinity for muscular, jazzy arrangements would remain constant throughout his life, but this is a fine example of his work in the first half of the '60s. Recommended!

Jamelao "Cuidado Moco" (RCA, 1969)
Once again, an interesting mix of intimate samba and schmaltzy, bombastic big-bandish vocals. This was Jamelao's first album after a six year hiatus, and ably showcases his affection for the archaic vocal style of the "radio singers" of the 1940s and '50s... Indeed, he even covers artists such as Tito Madi and Lupicinio Rodrigues, whose heyday had been years earlier. Old-fashioned, but entirely enjoyable -- similar to early work by Jair Rodrigues.

Jamelao "Por Forca Do Habito" (Som Livre, 2000)
An unusual album, to say the least. Jamelao is a samba old-timer, whose career dates back to the 1940s, and who helped popularize and define the Carnaval samba-cancao style, as well as compose many of the best-known themes of the Mangueira samba school. Here, though, he takes a Tony Bennett-ish turn, with sinuous, though sometimes sluggishly heavy horn arrangements and a sleek pop vocals styling. Certainly not what I expected when I spotted this album, and not entirely to my tastes, but certainly very intriguing. If you're looking to explore a very different avenue of Brazilian pop, check this out. Might make a nice compliment to Dick Farney's stuff, for example. (More more info on Jamelao's early career, check out Brazilianmusic.com.)

Jamelao "A Voz Do Samba" (Warner, 2002)
A three-CD box set (also for sale as single discs) that outlines Jamelao's work across the decades... It's a fine, comprehensive look at his career, and it's packed with some mighty fine music.

Antonio Carlos Jobim - see artist discography

Jongo Trio "Jongo Trio" (Gravodisc, 1965)
So far, I haven't been wild about the semi-bossa jazz trio albums I've heard (Tamba Trio, Zimbo Trio, etc.) but I've gotta say, these fellows -- who backed Baden Powell on some of his early recordings, and who worked regularly on the Elis Regina/Jair Rodrigues TV show -- are kind of fun... Their jazz chops seem stronger than many of their contemporary '60s Braz-jazz bands; there are hints of Thelonious Monk and early Miles Davis in here, and several lightly swinging tracks. I wound up not keeping this disc (or giving it to my radio station...) but it was still fairly interesting... worth checking out.

Joyce - see artist discography