Brazillian LP "Haul"

[JSngry]

Found a rummage sale that had a bunch of Brazillian (as in actually FROM Brazil) LPs for sale @ $3 per, and I bought all that the cash in my wallet would allow for.

I'm in no way knowledgeable about the music other than a general appreciation and an awareness of who the "names" are, and selected accordingly. I'd very much appreciate some informed commentary from those with a deeper knowledge than mine as to exactly what it is I bought - how these albums rate in the artist's overall output, how "rare" they may or may not be, if they've had American release, are any of them "important" artisticlly, etc. Ecerything's in Portugese, so liner notes ain't gonna help.

Here's what I got:

Gal Costa - QUARELADO BRASIL (Phillips) - seems to be a collection of Ary Barroso songs

Gal Costa - PROFANA (RCA) - pretty kinky cover

Edu Lobo/Chico Buaroque (Som Livre) - O GRANDE CIRCO MISTICO = seems to be an "all-star" affair

Egberto Gismonti - FANTASIA (EMI)Caymmi - SETENTA ANOS (can't figure out what label) - a 2LP set.

Toninho Horta Y Orchesra Fantasma - TERRA DOS PASSABOS (EMI) - only know the name. really cool packaging-

Toquinho - CASA DE BRINQUEDOS (Ariola) - again, no idea.

MPB4 - ADIMINHA O QUE E(Ariola) - never heard of these guys, but there's something about the way they look that says "jazzy", so hey.

MPB4 - A ARTE DE (Fontana) - see above. 2 LP set. "Represenative", I'm guessing/hoping

Hermeto Pascoal - & GRUPO (Som Dagente) - Hermeto I know about. Love him.

Hermeto (again) - AO VIVO (Brazillian(?) Atlantic) - Live at Montreux. HAD to get this one!

So like I said, any educated commentary (musical or otherwise) on this group of albums would be much appreciated. TIA!

[jazzbo]

Great score on the Pascoal---you know I love him as well!

The Costa lps I don't know about but I like all the Gal Costa I've heard.

The Edu Lobo/Chico Buaroque could be quite good; I like the little bit of these two gentlemen I've heard.

Egberto Gismonti . . . I have three or four of his ECMs (later recordings?) and enjoy them, though their sort of an acquired taste, I think you would like them though, they have a Pascoal like differentness to their conception, though they are guitar centric and spacier, noodlier than Hermeto's work. . . . These lps may be cool.

[kh1958]

Tonino Horta was associated with Milton Nascimento early in Milton's career and performed on some of Milton's finest recordings. I actually saw Horta one time in New York City in a small club, performing mostly solo on accoustic guitar and vocals. It was a very enjoyable experience. Unless I am confused as to labels, I think Horta had a recording on Blue Note (jazz oriented of course) a few years back, and I seem to recall reading that he may have performed at the Village Vanguard at around that time.

[kh1958]

In addition, Gal Costa is very fine as well, though I don't know those recordings. She is I believe one of the "MPB" performers that came up in Brazil in the late 1960s/1970s, such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Jorge Benjor and others.

[marcoliv]

JIm,

Aquarela do Brasil is truly great. i had this vynil long time ago when i was living in Africa. Ary Barroso is one of the most important composers of Brazil and the tracklist is fantastic. Gal was at the peak of her powers in the 80's so i think you're gonna love it

Profana is not that good. Vaca Profana & Topazio are the best songs composed by Caetano & Djavan respectively. i don't think you're gonna enjoy the rest of it

Grande Circo Mistico is a soundtrack for a ballet and artists such as Milton, Tim, Gil & Simone are perfoming there. Beatriz, one of the classic compositions from Chico & Edu is there and A Historia de Lily Braun is very good too. i don't think you 're gonna love this one too

Caymmi 70 anos is a tribute to his work released by Fundaçao Nacional de Arte in 1984 to celebrate his 70th birthday

Terra dos Passaros seems to be Toninho's first solo effort and 2 of his classic compositions are there: Diana & Beijo Partido. i love his compositions and his playing too

Casa de Brinquedos is from a TV show in 1983 and should be horrendous

MPB4 is one of the greatest vocalese groups in Brazil. not jazzy at all but they are very very good.

the album "Adivinha o que é" is dedicated to the kids so don't expect that much from this one

the compilations "A Arte de" are always very good and most of them have been re-released on CD last month

if you need anything else please let me know

Marcus

[JSngry]

JIm,

Aquarela do Brasil is truly great. i had this vynil long time ago when i was living in Africa. Ary Barroso is one of the most important composers of Brazil and the tracklist is fantastic. Gal was at the peak of her powers in the 80's so i think you're gonna love it

Profana is not that good. Vaca Profana & Topazio are the best songs composed by Caetano & Djavan respectively. i don't think you're gonna enjoy the rest of it

Grande Circo Mistico is a soundtrack for a ballet and artists such as Milton, Tim, Gil & Simone are perfoming there. Beatriz, one of the classic compositions from Chico & Edu is there and A Historia de Lily Braun is very good too. i don't think you 're gonna love this one too

Caymmi 70 anos is a tribute to his work released by Fundaçao Nacional de Arte in 1984 to celebrate his 70th birthday

Terra dos Passaros seems to be Toninho's first solo effort and 2 of his classic compositions are there: Diana & Beijo Partido. i love his compositions and his playing too

Casa de Brinquedos is from a TV show in 1983 and should be horrendous

MPB4 is one of the greatest vocalese groups in Brazil. not jazzy at all but they are very very good.

the album "Adivinha o que é" is dedicated to the kids so don't expect that much from this one

the compilations "A Arte de" are always very good and most of them have been re-released on CD last month

if you need anything else please let me know

Marcus

Thanks!

[JSngry]

Do/did the MPB4 cop to being influenced by the Hi-Los in their harmonies? I sure hear it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the influence was made.

[JSngry]

the album "Adivinha o que é" is dedicated to the kids so don't expect that much from this one

Actually, I'm glad you told me this before I listened to it. Knowing that it was a "kid's album" beforehand helped me listen accordingly. Not knowing the language, I'd probably have wondered what the hell was going on. As it is, I'm able to dig the concept as much as is possible w/o understanding the lyrics. There's some beautiful group singing on there too! I think I'm going to check out these guys some more if I can find another rummage sale...

[marcoliv]

Do/did the MPB4 cop to being influenced by the Hi-Los in their harmonies?

sorry Jim but this i dunno...

if you like them maybe you should also check "Os Cariocas" and "Quarteto em Cy" (only composed by girls)

Marcus

[JSngry]

Grande Circo Mistico is a soundtrack for a ballet and artists such as Milton, Tim, Gil & Simone are perfoming there. Beatriz, one of the classic compositions from Chico & Edu is there and A Historia de Lily Braun is very good too. i don't think you 're gonna love this one too

Oh, but I DI Dlove this one, although knowing that it was a ballet score helped appreciate some of the more "show" type numbers. There's some GORGEOUS ballads on there, heartbreaking even. I'd like to know what the "theme" of this piece was.

BTW - nearly all these albums came with inserts, deluxe inner sleeves, etc. Are Brazillian recordings always afforded such deluxe packaging?

[Jim R]

Do/did the MPB4 cop to being influenced by the Hi-Los in their harmonies?

sorry Jim but this i dunno...

if you like them maybe you should also check "Os Cariocas" and "Quarteto em Cy" (only composed by girls)

Marcus

An interesting question, and I have no answer either. I've never heard a whole album of the MPB4, and I'm still basically ignorant when it comes to the Hi Lo's. I've probably heard them at some point in my life, but I couldn't say for sure. At any rate, I love Os Cariocas, and I know that they were very influential and have stood the test of time (they formed in 1946, and are still together- with two original members remaining). Here's a quote from Ruy Castro's "Bossa Nova: The Story Of The Brazilian Music That Seduced The World"...

Dozens of vocal ensembles were formed and banded in Rio at the end of the forties, but there was one that seemed indestructible: Os Cariocas. From the time they turned professional in 1946, with their composition of members already established- Ismael Netto, his brother Severinho Filho, Badeco, Quartera and Valdir- Os Cariocas were regarded, at least at The Murray, as the General Motors of vocal ensembles. Just for the record, the Hi Lo's, whom it was later said they copied, were formed in 1953...

Jim, you may well realize it already, but that compilation I sent you a couple of years ago- "Bossa Nova: Sua Historia, Sua Gente"- included tracks from Os Cariocas, Quarteto Em Cy, and MPB4.

[marcoliv]

Are Brazillian recordings always afforded such deluxe packaging?

nope Jim, far from this....

MCO

[K1969]

Found a rummage sale that had a bunch of Brazillian (as in actually FROM Brazil) LPs for sale @ $3 per, and I bought all that the cash in my wallet would allow for.

I'm in no way knowledgeable about the music other than a general appreciation and an awareness of who the "names" are, and selected accordingly. I'd very much appreciate some informed commentary from those with a deeper knowledge than mine as to exactly what it is I bought - how these albums rate in the artist's overall output, how "rare" they may or may not be, if they've had American release, are any of them "important" artisticlly, etc. Ecerything's in Portugese, so liner notes ain't gonna help.

Toninho Horta Y Orchesra Fantasma - TERRA DOS PASSABOS (EMI) - only know the name. really cool packaging-

So like I said, any educated commentary (musical or otherwise) on this group of albums would be much appreciated. TIA!

I just found this old thread whilst searching for "Toninho horta" after listening to Aquelas Coisas Todas this moring from his Terra Dos Passaros LP. All I can say is that you lucked out!! Terra Dos Passaros was his first solo LP. It was first issued on a private label before EMI snatched it. But both are rare and very nice. But the main reason I'm posting is for the track Aquelas Coisas Todas (all those things). I could understand people not digging the whole LP, but give this track a second spin if you haven't already. It's a true unsung, diamond. It became a kind of "underground standard" getting picked up by other artists from time to time. During the brazilian craze in London in the 90s it became a DJ cult favourite and went for BIGGGGG $$$. The beautiful, beautiful melody is up there with the gods. The intro is sublime. Horta's accapella emerges from the misty soundscape like a mountain dawn. His voice is reminiscent of Jobim's husky fog-horn style, but more refined. And what a tune! The deceptively low key verse creeps up on you and then the refrain just elevates your whole spirit. OK I'm "Jurek-ing" but listen to it, and it might just stay with you for life..... but be aware, you may be seduced like me into posting some pansy nonsense about how beautiful life can be !!!

The rare 1979 vinyl with the plush packaging:

The nasty CD reissue (OK sound though)

Edited May 19, 2007 by K1969