Tom Cohen’s Embraceable Brazil: A Lifelong Bossa Nova Dream Realized

Drummer Tom Cohen’s lifelong love affair with bossa nova reaches its fullest expression with the October 10, 2025 release of Embraceable Brazil on Versa Records. More than a decade in the making, the album is Cohen’s sixth as a leader, and it unfolds like a vibrant mosaic—13 tracks performed by rotating ensembles of American and Brazilian musicians, each adding their own hues to a rich spectrum of sound.

For Cohen, the project was truly a labor of love. Since childhood in Newark, New Jersey, he’s been captivated by the breezy fusion of samba and jazz, inspired by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 records his parents played at home. Recording sessions for Embraceable Brazil began over twelve years ago, with Cohen meticulously revisiting and reworking the music until he was satisfied. “I would record the music, then redo it and shelve it, wait a year and redo it again,” he says. “At the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024, I vowed that it was time to get this thing finished up.”

The result is a collection that honors tradition while bending boundaries. Reverent renditions of Brazilian classics like Milton Nascimento’s “Tarde” and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema” sit alongside adventurous reimaginings of unexpected material. Cohen transforms Pat Martino’s fusion anthem “Joyous Lake” and even Carly Simon’s pop hit “You’re So Vain” into rhythmically rich, groove-driven bossa nova gems.

Standout moments include Chico Pinheiro’s guitar and John Swana’s electronic valve instrument on “Tarde,” Orlando Haddad and Patricia King’s vocals on Toninho Horta’s “Aquelas Coisas Todas,” and Barbara Mendes’s laid-back voice paired with Larry McKenna’s saxophone on “The Girl from Ipanema.” Together with Cohen’s drumming and Edson da Silva Café’s percussion, the album’s sonic palette balances nostalgia with surprise.

Cohen’s journey began with childhood drum lessons, high school bands, and hours of practice at George Washington University before fully committing to Philadelphia’s jazz scene. Over the decades he’s worked with the likes of Odean Pope, Shirley Scott, Orrin Evans, and Joey DeFrancesco, and studied with the great Tony Williams. His discography reflects wide-ranging collaborations, from Diggin’ In, Digging Out with Chris Potter to Joyride with Benito Gonzalez and Tim Ries.

With Embraceable Brazil, Cohen steps into a dual role as drummer and producer. “I was really proud of this producer in me that kind of emerged,” he reflects. “You just never know what possibilities there are until you try something new. The future is sometimes more open than we think.”