Saturday, July 29, 2006

Carlos Lyra - Depois do Carnaval, O Sambalanço de Carlos Lyra (1963)

With arrangements by Luiz Eca, Tamba Trio and guest vocals by Nara Leao on Promessa de Voce, Carlos Lyra is back to Loronix, with the 1963 classic, Depois do Carnaval, O Sambalanço de Carlos Lyra.

Depois do Carnaval is a landmark on Lyra's career and Brazilian music. It is the first Bossa Nova LP with political lyrics, all composed by Lyra, announcing a start of a more political oriented approach. Unfortunately, the use of political oriented records was aborted in 1964 with the change of politics with records being censored by the dictatorship.

Lyra had to move to Mexico, as a matter of fact, there is a wonderful Carlos Lyra LP available at Loronix archives, Savara, widely acclaimed zecalouro's friends. Inspite politics, this LP shows Lyra at his best with nice melodies, complex harmonization and a lot of groove provided by the Luiz Eca and Tamba Trio.

Walter Wanderley - O Toque Inconfundivel de Walter Wanderley (1964)

It is always great to hear a Walter Wanderley LP, all Walter discography is worthwhile, specially those ones made in Brazil. In 1964, Walter was in his peak, releasing 3 LPs in a row.

After 27 days without rain in Rio de Janeiro, finally we are having a rainy day. zecalouro is no more worried with his psittacidae counterparts at rain forest. We had more then a thousand fire alerts during this period and the rain comes to relief the all these problems. Sorry for this "out of topic" statement.

Back to Walter Wanderley, this is Walter Wanderley, O Toque Inconfundivel de Walter Wanderley (1964), his first Brazilian LP for Philips, a nice and hard to find LP were Walter is accompanied by a new group with Decio Carraro (vibraphone), Mechior Swaya (flute), Teophilo de Barros Neto (guitar, bass and voice) and Olinto Hamilto Pitorre (drums).

Friday, July 28, 2006

Celso Murilo - Mr. Ritmo (1961)

In the 60's, instrumental LPs with Organ and Piano were really a must. The acclaimed Walter Wanderley and Ed Lincoln are the main legends, but there are others that complete the Brazilian organists team with competency.

Celso Murilo is Joao Gilberto favorite organist. With this credential, zecalouro proudly presents Celso Murilo - Mr. Ritmo (1961?) the date is uncertain. Celso Murilo and this LP specifically is strongly influenced by afro-Cuban style, which makes this LP sound unique on a first hearing.

I will ask for the help of the LP translated original linear notes, as follows:

Celso Levanhagen is the real name of this 'mineiro' from Baependí, still very young but so decidedly advanced on the road to success and popularity. This superb organist and no less a pianist can be found in the nightclub Drink, where the directors of Pawal Records discovered him. Impressed by the powerful brilliance of the young 'mineiro', they invited him to record an LP on their newly founded label, and, it ended up as you can hear - an auspicious beginning and an absolute success.

Celso Murilo had already been presented to the record buying public on two excellent long playing records - 'Sambas Na Passarela' and 'Ritmos Na Passarela' whereupon, as the titles suggest, authentic hits flowed in procession for the delight of those who love great interpretations of great music. On these albums Celso impressed all those who heard him with his pure technique, ability to improve and general talent as a bandleader. We don't know which of these samba dance tracks were top of the pops with you the listening jury, but the true victor without shadow of a doubt is this new and excellent interpreter of popular music: Celso Murilo - our 'Mr Ritmo'.

So, now well known and deservedly lauded, here he is once more showcased in this spectacular LP, where we celebrate more of his stupendous performances. On this LP, recorded in Mono and Stereophonic, we hear a selection of cha-cha-chas and sambas, hand picked for your musical delectation.

In our opinion 'Mr Ritmo' will only serve to solidify and consolidate Celso Murilo's prestige with a wider public, a public that's young and carefree, that hears this type of music and dances and sings, in the reflection of Celso's own youth and vitality.


Sivuca e Seu Conjunto - Motivo para Dancar (1956)

A little bit late at Loronix, zecalouro proudly introduces the legendary accordionist, arranger and composer Sivuca with his 1956 LP Motivo para Dancar. Sivuca is an internationally renowned artist, having performed with Baden, Rosinha de Valenca, Radames Gnattali and many many others.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Elza Soares - O Maximo em Samba (1967)

Elza Soares, what a nice choice, nothing can go wrong with Elza Soares - O Maximo em Samba (1967). This LP is so cool, great and successful that zecalouro could sing together by heart all its twelve tracks this afternoon.

The late 60's was Elza Soares peak and this LP one of her best releases. zecalouro is quite sure that each track will bring to Brazilian friends good memories, all songs are fresh and as today, being played during carnaval and Samba shows. zecalouro friends worldwide will also enjoy it, the track list is a must with songs that will make you wake up in the morning whistling Elza's music and felling happy.

Breno Sauer e Seu Conjunto - Viva a Bossa! (1963)

Good Morning! This is probably one of the earliest LPs released by Breno Sauer Quarteto, here as Breno Sauer e seu Conjunto. The release date is uncertain, probably recorded by an early Breno in Porto Alegre, Breno's hometown in south of Brazil.

Breno Sauer was influenced by Musica Regional, which is made up of guitar, accordion, flute, pandeiro and cavaquinho. The sound of the accordion is on all tracks of this LP.

Later on, Breno Sauer has assembled Breno Sauer Quarteto, releasing the successful LPs 4 na Bossa and 4 no Sucesso.

That's all zecalouro knows. This is a very nice easy-listening Bossa Jazz LP with the unusual sound of accordion with a vibraphone dueling with a very well played piano. Tracks include Jobim and Bossa Nova classics.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Alaide Costa - Gosto de Voce (1959) - Debut LP

Nice one now, nothing can go wrong with the debut LP of the Brazilian Diva Alaide Costa, Gosto de Voce (1959). Alaide is a real gifted singer that has a unique voice and interpretation.

Different from Elizeth Cardoso and Angela Maria, Alaide started his career together with the Bossa Nova age. Alaide had a great sponsor at the beginning, guess who? Easy: Joao Gilberto. Joao invited Alaide to engage the initial meeting and rehearsals with that group that created Bossa Nova. Unfortunately, Alaide did not keep the pace with the movement; for instance, she was not invited to take part on the legendary first Bossa Nova US concert at Carnegie Hall.

Baden Powell - Apresentando Baden Powell e o seu Violão (1959)

zecalouro kept this LP in the row for weeks. This is Baden Powell debut LP, Apresentando Baden Powell e o Seu Violao (1959). This cover is unique. What they were thinking when releasing the first LP of a great genius with this nice girl on cover? Sell more copies? I really don't know.

This LP is more a curiosity than a Baden Powell release. The repertoire is full of jazz standards; such like Stella by Starlight and the arrangements are orchestrated, such like the sound of the 50's performed by Monteiro de Souza e sua Orquestra.

Baden was 22 years old when this LP was released and this is a very rare collectors item.

Angela Maria - Angela Maria Canta para o Mundo (1962) @ 320Kbps

This is a special post. On a given day last week, zecalouro received a call from his mother:

- zecalouro, do what I'm saying, get an LP where Angela Maria is singing in front of a globe...

Mother’s advice cannot be ignored and the search for the globe LP has started.

zecalouro identified that Angela Maria released two LPs between 1962 and 1963 called Angela Maria Canta para o Mundo - Angela Maria Sings for the World, Volume One and Two. I was about to give up.

But, there is always a "but" on every happy ending story, KIMCASTRO, a Loronix friend made these two precious gems available to us. Thanks a million KIMCASTRO!

So here we go with Angela Maria Canta para o Mundo - Volume 1, a tremendous success at the early 60's where Angela shows all the tricks of her outstanding voice on a repertoire full of classics that goes from Samba, Fado, Bolero, Marcha Rancho, Marchinha, etc.

Meanwhile, zecalouro found an outstanding fan website with everything you should know about The Angel, including all Lyrics, cover artwork and pictures, do not miss the amazing ..::Angela Maria - A Estrela do Brasil::..

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

O Conjunto Sergio Carvalho - Alta Tensao (1967)

zecalouro has now a really obscure LP to present, this the one that he as really no info about. O Conjunto Sergio Carvalho, Alta Tensao (unknown release date).

Ze Maria, Seu Orgao e Seu Conjunto - Bossa Nova e Balanco, Esquema 64 (1964)

Another amazing - teamwork is needed - post of an obscure LP from the 60's. When zecalouro saw this cover artwork he kept himself wondering for a while that it was some 78 RMP from the 30's or 40's.

Pretty wrong. This is a nice LP from 1964, Ze Maria, Seu Orgao e seu Conjunto, Bossa Nova e Balanco, Esquema 64. Ze Maria is an organist, sometimes ironically defined as a Walter Wanderley wannabe.

A Turma da Pilantragem - O Som da Pilantragem (1968)

Here we go again on another weird release that zecalouro asks for some teamwork to gather information.

This is A Turma da Pilantragem - O Som da Pilantragem (1968), a legendary album from some sort of cultural movement from the late 60's called Turma da Pilantragem, lead by Carlos Imperial with the participation of Wilson Simonal. Essentially, the Pilantragem movement was all about having life for fun, drive sports cars and get all the beautiful girls in town. Pretty good, no?

Monday, July 24, 2006

Brazil Aquarius - Brazil Aquarius y Luiz Antonio (1973)

zecalouro does not known how come the idea of these Brazilian musicians to record an LP in Barcelona, Spain in 1973 with the name Brazil Aquarius Y Luiz Antonio, originally releasing the record only in Spain.

But zecalouro knows that it is a must see a must get Bossa LP. If any Loronixer friend in Spain is able to gather additional information about the LP and the Artist, zecalouro will be pleased!

The musicians on the set are Ruben Serrano Filho (guitar, vibes, vocals and percussion), Raymundo Bittencourt (drums, vocals and percussion), Bonfa Burnier (electric guitar, vocals and percussion), Walmer Sendim (electric bass and percussion), Leonardo Luz (piano and percussion), Erica Norimar (lead vocals and percussion) and Luiz Antonio (lead vocals).

The tracklist is full of Brazilian classics, such as: "Sonho", "Dia 4 Dezembro", "Pais Tropical", "Feitinha Para O Poeta", "Nada Sera Como Antes", and "Agua De Beber".

Cartola - Verde que te Quero Rosa (1977)

Cartola is the founder of Mangueira Samba School - known by its unique verde e rosa (green and pink) official colors - and the most famous and celebrated composer of Brazilian Samba golden age.

Cartola - Verde que te Quero Rosa (1977) is one of the best of Cartola spare releases. Recorded 3 years before his passing, this LP has wonderful arrangements, performed by a set of musicians that only a legend can drag together to a set, which includes Radamés Gnatalli, Canhoto, Meira, Dininho, Vidal, Hélio Capucci, Wilson das Neves, Jorge Silva, Luna, Marçal, Elizeu, Antenor Marques Filho, Gilberto dÁvila, Aizik Geller, Abel Ferreira, Altamiro Carrilho and Nelsinho.

Take also a time to read the awesome Cartola bio. During more than a decade, Cartola has just disappeared from Mangueira and the music scene. Everybody was even thinking that Cartola died, when Sergio Porto discovered him by accident living in poor conditions washing cars on Rio de Janeiro streets. There are many other stories.

This cover artwork is also something that you cannot ignore. Very beautiful.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Eliana and Booker Pittman - News from Brazil, Bossa Nova (1963)

Eliana Pittman is the stepdaughter of the American sax player Booker Pittman. Eliana and Booker performed together for some short time in the 60's. This rare LP, Eliana and Booker Pittman, News from Brazil, Bossa Nova (1963), is one of the few memories zecalouro could found about the time they were together as artists.

I do not have much information to present about this LP, what is already known so far is that Tamba Trio takes part on the set and the arrangements are from Gaya. If a Loronixer friend has additional information about this LP, let us know.

Better listen to it, a nice Jazz Bossa, very rare, even the cover artwork was difficult to grab.