NICOLA CONTE PRESENTS VIAGEM 5: LOST BOSSA & SAMBA CLASSICS FROM THE SWINGING BRAZILIAN 60s
Sunny
samba jazz, breezy bossa and all around wonderful rare grooves from Brazil –
treasures from the heart of the 60s, compiled by Italian jazz guru Nicola
Conte! Conte is not only one of the most affectionately groovy jazz players on
the contemporary global landscape, he's also a selector with impeccable taste.
Just on the basis of the Viagem series, the man would get our nomination for
sainthood. This is the fifth time he's drawn from his deep well of rare 60s
records from Brazil, and it keeps getting better and better. The tunes are
rooted in a small combo jazzy vibe, most with easygoing MPB vocals. It's the
love of jazz-centric, but still profoundly Brazilian sounds that makes the Viagem
series stand out so strongly. 10" LP pressing features ten tracks in all –
and titles include "Crepusculo" by Jazz 4, "Onda Quebrando"
by Neyde Fraga, "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" by Breno Sauer,
"Se Voce Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear" by Elizabeth Viana, "Olhou
Pra Mim" by Dr Severino & Conjunto Subverson, "Babalao" by
Nelsinho & Os Ipanemas, "Ye Mele" by Papudinho, and "Matando
A Miseria A Pau" by Edith Vega. (Limited to 500 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove.
FABRIZIO BOSSO SPRITUAL TRIO - PURPLE
A really
unusual project for this great Italian trumpeter – a set that has Fabrizio
Bosso working with his Spiritual Trio – a group that features lots of Hammond
organ, and plenty of tight drums! The "spiritual" in their name is a
reference to an American gospel and soul tradition – one that's given plenty of
play here, as most numbers are old spiritual standards from the church,
reworked by Bosso into jazz instrumentals! Given the heavy use of organ, the approach
is a bit like some of the Lou Bennett albums on the European scene of the 60s –
with maybe a nod to the Donald Byrd albums of a spiritual nature for Blue Note.
But there's also some very personal elements here too – either unusual
instrumental inflections or production techniques, or some other aspects that
show a greatly evolved understanding of this mode in jazz. Titles include
"This Little Light Of Mine", "Purple", "A Little 3/4
For God & Co", "Dreams Come True", "Wishy Washy",
"Total Praise", "A Change Is Gonna Come", and "Wade In
The Water". ~ Dusty
Groove
MARIO BIONDI - MARIO CHRISTMAS
A really
special sort of Christmas album from Mario Biondi – one that uses his
tremendous vocals in a mighty great way! All tunes are familiar numbers –
Holiday hits from the past and more recent years – but they're all taken in
some great Mario Biondi directions that include the sort of bouncy rhythms we
loved in his work for Schema Records, or some of the more soul-drenched lines
from his recent albums! The album's worth it alone for a wonderful cover of
"Driving Home For Christmas" – a wonderful choice for the record –
and other tunes include "Last Christmas", "This Christmas",
"Dreaming Land", "My Christmas Baby", "White
Christmas", and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". CD also features
a non-holiday gem, too – a version of "After The Love Is Gone",
performed with Earth Wind & Fire. ~ Dusty Groove
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