Bossa Nova Music

Ana Caram's vocals bear an eeire remsemblance to 60s Brazilian superstar Astrid Gilberto, but I can't hold that against her. Ana's plaintive whispering vocals are well suited to David Chesky's sparse production values. This CD is retrograde in the sense that it revisits the wonderful 60's fusion of samba and cool jazz. Now, at last, I can take my classic Getz/Gilberto CD off the turntable and replace it with the swaying samba of this talented artist. I have a feeling this one's going to stay on my turntable a long, long time. Hats off to Chesky Records for bringing us another treasure.

I was hesitant to take a chance on Ana Caram, but was I ever pleasantly surprised at how well she is suited to the Bossa Nova sound! Ana Caram sings beautifully. Thanks to the folks who made it possible to enjoy her artistry.

Ana, in partnership with Chesky Records, has been charming us for better than 15 years now, and this is one of her best. With a couple of exceptions, these are not songs you already know; this is Latin Jazz, done to perfection. A captivating voice, a mixture of English and Portugese in a combination that always seems just right, and great instrumental back-up; that makes a Winner, with a capital W.

Once again, Chesky does it right. Then again, they do everything right; Bach to Bossa Nova, all perfect. A pretty girl, who sings wonderfully, great music, and the very finest in recorded sound. Nuff said.

I bought this after listening to a few tracks at a music shop. I'm not heavily into Brazilian, but love Latin. Though I haven't heard of Ana Caram before, her voice and guitar blended superbly.

Well made bossa nova!

In my search for various recordings of 'Blue Bossa' I was very fortunate to come across this terrific CD. While Ana Caram will be compared to the great Astrud Gilberto, she has an even mellower approach and somewhat smoother delivery which is so perfectly suited to the sounds of this music. If you enjoy Bossa Nova, you will surely want to add this to your collection! She's a gem!

Ana Caram's vocals bear an eeire remsemblance to 60s Brazilian superstar Astrid Gilberto, but I can't hold that against her. Ana's plaintive whispering vocals are well suited to David Chesky's sparse production values. This CD is retrograde in the sense that it revisits the wonderful 60's fusion of samba and cool jazz. Now, at last, I can take my classic Getz/Gilberto CD off the turntable and replace it with the swaying samba of this talented artist. I have a feeling this one's going to stay on my turntable a long, long time. Hats off to Chesky Records for bringing us another treasure.

I was hesitant to take a chance on Ana Caram, but was I ever pleasantly surprised at how well she is suited to the Bossa Nova sound! Ana Caram sings beautifully. Thanks to the folks who made it possible to enjoy her artistry.

Ana, in partnership with Chesky Records, has been charming us for better than 15 years now, and this is one of her best. With a couple of exceptions, these are not songs you already know; this is Latin Jazz, done to perfection. A captivating voice, a mixture of English and Portugese in a combination that always seems just right, and great instrumental back-up; that makes a Winner, with a capital W.

Once again, Chesky does it right. Then again, they do everything right; Bach to Bossa Nova, all perfect. A pretty girl, who sings wonderfully, great music, and the very finest in recorded sound. Nuff said.

I bought this after listening to a few tracks at a music shop. I'm not heavily into Brazilian, but love Latin. Though I haven't heard of Ana Caram before, her voice and guitar blended superbly.

Well made bossa nova!

In my search for various recordings of 'Blue Bossa' I was very fortunate to come across this terrific CD. While Ana Caram will be compared to the great Astrud Gilberto, she has an even mellower approach and somewhat smoother delivery which is so perfectly suited to the sounds of this music. If you enjoy Bossa Nova, you will surely want to add this to your collection! She's a gem!

Wonderful! Best sample of Brazilian music ever! Not a single track I don't like.

Fans of jazz will appriciate the different take here, as will fans of Brazilian music. It is a very nice, eclectic collection; very enjoyable for the music lover. Out of several collections of Bazilian music I have listened to, it is the most jazz oriented.

Fans of jazz will appreciate the different take here, as will fans of Brazilian music. It is a very nice, eclectic collection; very enjoyable for the music lover. Out of several collections of Bazilian music I have listened to, it is the most jazz oriented.

To talk about Brazil is to evoke the musical paradise per excellence, the untiring joy, the delirious football, its dreamy beaches, its eternal sun. that successful cornucopia has allowed to nourish an intense musicality as well musical styles, including Joven Guarda in the 50?s, samba and MPB in the 60's and 70's. That impressive crossroads of cultures; European, African and Indian. Furthermore, Brazil has inspired the jazz and vice versa with fabulous results.

This album incorporates a very valuable set of singers, ensembles between 1965 and 1980, and it constitutes an admirable tour de force throughout the Brazilian music: Quarteto Novo, Joyce, Milton banana Trio, Eumir Deodato and the delirious singer Elza Soares

If you go for this album, you will make a wise choice.

I cannot believe it took me this long to "discover" this CD. It is remarkable with terrific tracks and a seemingly natural flowing feel about it. From the opening track, you are transported to Brazil and have the feel of the music and the inspiration of the new movement and the next generation of Brazilian musicians and stars.

The biggest standout track to me is Joyce's "Aldeia de Ogum". It displays her range and the shows how she could use her voice as an instrument just like the other top divas of Sarah Vaugh and Flora Purim. Other notable artists were Edu Lobo, Marcos Valle, Eumir Deodoto and Milton Banana Trio.

After giving it a listen, you wonder why Sergio Mendes version of Ponteio wasn't included. But it doesn't stop you from enjoying it. I recommend this CD.

... I grew to appreciate this one more. At first listen, you're thrown off because it's so much different from the first one, released a few years earlier in the mid 90s (this one's from 1997). Featuring Brazilian tracks with a pretty "blue note" type of vibe, but really loaded with funk & some soul, this is a sampler of some pretty sweet clasics from the 60's and 70's (give or take a few). The funny thing is that today, I listened to a few albums I hadn't heard in a long time, so I felt like comparing Blue Brazil 2 with Beleza Tropical and Brazilian Beats.

Starting out with Antonio & Adolofo's "Transamazonica", you know you're in for a pretty sweet, jazzed up trip. While you've got some original glory featured here, do note that in early 07', it was featured on Far Out's "Brazilika", given a Daz-I-Que edit under the title "Luizao". Wilson Simonal had a nice rendition of a Moacir Santos classic here with "Nana". And how about Elza Soares' "Deixa A Negar Gingar". Once married to the "Joy of the People" (Garrincha), Elza had so much power and spirit in her voice, and was so popular the same could also be said of her. Milton Banana which his distinct sound, light bossa and gentle sway chipped in with a few great songs too. Also check out the Quarteto Em Cy version of "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" - nice. It's been done quite a few times, maybe more notably recent versions by fusion legends Azymuth. But I think the real cool track here is the pretty emotional "Libera Nos" by Edu Lobo. The intro's so cool - in about 1996 or so, a French jazz group featuring Salome De Bahia named "Reminiscence Quartet" released a song titled "Inspiration" which featured the beginning of this song. Fitting, really considering Edu Lobo's sometimes overlooked musical genius.

All in all, this was a very good compilation of songs. Not all of the songs I liked now or back when I first got this several years ago ("Also Sprach Zarathustra" being one, even though it was a very influential song. But listening to it now, I can appreciate more of the songs. There's some real quality here and some really cool, funky and groovy old sounds and auras from Brasil from 30-40 years ago. The politics, the poverty, the crime and desparation but still the breath-taking beauty and art in such an amazing place. Check it out! And it placed a bit above Brazilian Beats (vol 1) and Beleza Tropical to me. Different concepts, but altogether different quality too. The good thing with this compilation is that they proudly trumpet that Brazilian music is much more than "The Girl from Ipanema" and they do a great job showing it.

You won't regret buying this CD. The music is hip and groovy. It's good enough to get over your stressful day or if you're stuck in traffic, which means that it's pretty damn good for any of your reg day.

... I grew to appreciate this one more. At first listen, you're thrown off because it's so much different from the first one, released a few years earlier in the mid 90s (this one's from 1997). Featuring Brazilian tracks with a pretty "blue note" type of vibe, but really loaded with funk & some soul, this is a sampler of some pretty sweet clasics from the 60's and 70's (give or take a few). The funny thing is that today, I listened to a few albums I hadn't heard in a long time, so I felt like comparing Blue Brazil 2 with Beleza Tropical and Brazilian Beats.

Starting out with Antonio & Adolofo's "Transamazonica", you know you're in for a pretty sweet, jazzed up trip. While you've got some original glory featured here, do note that in early 07', it was featured on Far Out's "Brazilika", given a Daz-I-Que edit under the title "Luizao". Wilson Simonal had a nice rendition of a Moacir Santos classic here with "Nana". And how about Elza Soares' "Deixa A Negar Gingar". Once married to the "Joy of the People" (Garrincha), Elza had so much power and spirit in her voice, and was so popular the same could also be said of her. Milton Banana which his distinct sound, light bossa and gentle sway chipped in with a few great songs too. Also check out the Quarteto Em Cy version of "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" - nice. It's been done quite a few times, maybe more notably recent versions by fusion legends Azymuth. But I think the real cool track here is the pretty emotional "Libera Nos" by Edu Lobo. The intro's so cool - in about 1996 or so, a French jazz group featuring Salome De Bahia named "Reminiscence Quartet" released a song titled "Inspiration" which featured the beginning of this song. Fitting, really considering Edu Lobo's sometimes overlooked musical genius.

All in all, this was a very good compilation of songs. Not all of the songs I liked now or back when I first got this several years ago ("Also Sprach Zarathustra" being one, even though it was a very influential song. But listening to it now, I can appreciate more of the songs. There's some real quality here and some really cool, funky and groovy old sounds and auras from Brasil from 30-40 years ago. The politics, the poverty, the crime and desparation but still the breath-taking beauty and art in such an amazing place. Check it out! And it placed a bit above Brazilian Beats (vol 1) and Beleza Tropical to me. Different concepts, but altogether different quality too. The good thing with this compilation is that they proudly trumpet that Brazilian music is much more than "The Girl from Ipanema" and they do a great job showing it.

You won't regret buying this CD. The music is hip and groovy. It's good enough to get over your stressful day or if you're stuck in traffic, which means that it's pretty damn good for any of your reg day.

I've never heard anything this good before. I'm a jaded hip-hop and drum & bass DJ. I love many, many genre's of music. And this is the best set of music i've ever heard compiled into a four disc set. If you are a true urban music lover, this will please anyone who's grown up with rhythmic music. These are the roots of urban dance music today.

As a rap DJ from New Haven, I realize that this box set is a wealth of stuff to sample. The amount of funk on all of this record is nearly unbeatable definitely so good that I can't stop listening to this.

Hip-hop gotta give props to the original gangsta funk and the amazon explanation tells it all about various famous groups who sampled from it. Of course, the highlights are Donald Byrd (but actually Places and Spaces for Pete Rock) and Bobbi Humphrey and Monk Higgins and David Axelrod. I would get all 4 volumes as the history of an era which has been lost in alternative music which has no sense of funk left in it.

This album is exciting and tasteful at the same time. It is also at times emphatic, at times delicate, but always classy. With only bass and drums to complement him, Charlie's virtuosity shines through.
Naming particular tunes is largely pointless - it's all about the feel. But no-one has ever done "It Don't Mean A Thing" better, despite countless attempts.

Charilie Byrd is the quintessential SMOOTH. On this album he also gets down and dirty with a dry sense of humor. This album makes you want to drink beer straight from the bottle and dance around the room. Every single track is a personal favorite, but Ain't Got Nothin' But the BLues, is a definite call to feet.

This album is exciting and tasteful at the same time. It is also at times emphatic, at times delicate, but always classy. With only bass and drums to complement him, Charlie's virtuosity shines through.
Naming particular tunes is largely pointless - it's all about the feel. But no-one has ever done "It Don't Mean A Thing" better, despite countless attempts.

Charilie Byrd is the quintessential SMOOTH. On this album he also gets down and dirty with a dry sense of humor. This album makes you want to drink beer straight from the bottle and dance around the room. Every single track is a personal favorite, but Ain't Got Nothin' But the BLues, is a definite call to feet.