South American

Golden-era, 1977, Brazilian jazz-funk-fusion album from the legendary, Azymuth. Lush Rhodes, soaring synths and fusion guitars from Malheiros and Bertrami combine with the inimitable drum grooves from Ivan “Mamao” Conti that create the signature Azymuth sound. The album moves from mellow soulful moods, into screaming disco-jazz-fusion, samba funk, synth boogie and ends with a bonkers 160bpm Batucada workout. A truly incredible release and an essential piece for all Brazillian collections. TIP!

Sergio Sayeg (aka Sessa) has always been entranced by what he calls “the mess” of music: the accidental, tortuous nature of it. While Sessa’s 2019 debut Grandeza explored the corporeal pleasures and gentle drunkenness of being in love, his new album, Estrela Acesa (which translates as Burning Star), gazes up to the heavens and ponders love, both sensuous and spiritual, in the throes of its resultant hangover. Gorgeous textural, rich folk and MBP (Brazillian popular music) for the breezy and softer days. Comes on stunning 'mermaid blue' vinyl!

Brazilian drumming legend Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti has been experimenting and innovating for the last half a century. As one-third of cult Rio jazz-funk trio Azymuth, Mamão was at the root of the group’s ‘samba doido’ (crazy samba) philosophy, bringing jazz influences and spacey electronics to traditional samba. Poison Fruit is his first album in over twenty years and his first on vinyl since 1984, save for his dope collaborative piece with hip-hop royalty Madlib under the shared moniker ‘Jackson Conti’. Expect rootsy, electronic samba and tripped-out jazz, beats and dance music. Comes on RSD special splattered vinyl with 2 unreleased tracks on a bonus 7"!

Insane boogie fire from Rio circa 82; both Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti were already decorated before they joined forces, but this one took both of their reputations and amplified them beyond expectation. Their one and only album, it's loaded with soul and funk from every corner of Brazil's sexy city and brought together with beautiful attention to detail; the gradual vocal breakdowns, rude synths and lavish instrumental sections, key cuts such as the Wonder-level "Aleluia", the jazz slides and glides of "Pret-A-Porter" and the sexy 80s electro boogie "Squash" will still completely flip any party 35 years later. Stunning.

Wicked 2014 Hip-Hop & MBP (Brazillian popular music) release by one of Brazil's most prominent rappers and singers, Criolo. Convoque Seu Buda (Eng. for Summon Your Buddha) is a spell-binding experience that digs much deeper than the harder rap he made a name for himself with years ago. Plenty of diversity on here between genres and live instrumentation, including some big brassy Skank and smokey soul joints.

Analog Africa's latest must-have release focuses on the little-known musical culture of the Para state on Northern Brazil, specifically the port city of Belem. Since the 1960s the city's musicians have been serving up unique and exciting new styles that draw as much on West African, Cuban and Caribbean music as they do the rhythms and instrumentation of the Amazonian tribes based nearby. Think heavy bass, bouncy ska-style rhythms, punchy Afro-Cuban horns, densely layered drums, celebratory vocals and tropical guitars. Context is provided via the included 24-page booklet, whose extensive liner notes track the development of Para's unique musical culture. Incredible compilation!

Jorge Ben's first full-length record, this 1963 release contains the hit singles "Mas Que Nada" and "Chove Chuva" and exemplifies the light yet propulsive rhythms that kept Ben in a decades-long career in Brazilian pop. Full of big-band sway with sweeping Bossa Nova touch and lively choruses, it's fantastic to track Ben here as he evolved into more rock and Afro-percussive ballads. An incredibly enjoyable listen from the young superstar.

Born in Rio in 1940, Helio won his first guitar from his father at age 12. He worked in sugar mills and as a sales clerk in record stores while beginning to play at Rio nightclubs. In 1975 he signed to RCA Victor, where he released his first LP, 'Matheus Segundo Matheus'. A stunning blend of jazz, funk, MBP, and quiet folk ballads, the album had a staggering 128 musicians contributing to the overall recordings, and he went on to play as a support for Azymuth for a period too. Unfortunately, he never lived to see this reissue by Athens Of The North, but they have certainly done it justice. A perfect Brazillian LP to play from start to finish.

Divine MPB (Brazillian 'popular music') and neo-soul with bedroom sensibilities from Bruno Berle, one of Maceio's (Brazil) rising vocal talents. Produced with an intimate and humble lo-fi quality, Berle's innocent vocals are carried along with 808s and simple acoustic guitar. It's a beautiful release that manages to find the space to even explore some ambient, dancehall and soft rock sounds, all handled with care and ease. Incredible stuff!

When ‘Prender el Alma’ was released in 2015, a global audience was introduced to this new strain of Latin American music Nicola Cruz calls ‘Andes Step’. Influenced by digital technology and blended with local culture and instrumentation, Cruz built his tracks layer by layer, instrument by instrument, drum by drum, exploring local indigenous and Afro-cosmologies in a modern setting. To this day, Cruz leads forward-thinking producers and musicians in Ecuador in their own digital folklore revolution. Using homeland traditions and rhythms to build on a vibrant history of visual and sonic art, this record is still an essential release that I cannot recommend any higher!

Jazz Room Records big boss Paul Murphy reissues another obscure, hard-to-find and sought-after Latin jazz album of the highest order! This time, a glorious New York fusion of salsa, Latin jazz, boogaloo and funk most famous for the two-part 'Suite Gauracho' - a piano-popping, flute-laden affair that has become a favourite of both Balearic and nu-jazz DJs. Big chunes for the Jazz dancers!

Repress of this essential Brazilian-boogie album! Pure class throughout, with a dream team of incredible musicians and producers behind the scenes including Tim Maia, Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. Absolute banger!

Inspired equally by the soul and funk of the Black Rio movement and the samba rock innovations of Jorge Ben, Serginho Meriti’s classic debut album presents one of the best - if least known - examples of funky Brazilian soul. This beautiful record deserves all the shine!

Reissue of this post-Tropicalia masterpiece from one of the movement's key figures and true legends of Brazilian music - the late Gal Costa. Features a stellar lineup of musicians including Gilberto Gil, Arthur Verocai, Dominguinhos, Rogario Duprat and Tenorio Jr. amongst others. Rest In Peace Gal!

Recorded and originally only released in Argentina in 1972, this album shows an exquisite and delicate dialogue between the guitar of Sebastião Tapajos and the percussion of Pedro Dos Santos. A stunning two-hander, it generates ambiences of unusual beauty and depth. A necessary companion to the much-hailed Pedro Dos Santos album 'Krishnanda' and an essential record for those keen on the more adventurous sounds of Brazil. Tip!

So many hits here by one of the giants of Brazilian music. This masterpiece includes the great boogie joint ‘Rio Babilonia’, the all-time classic ‘Taj Mahal/Pais Tropical’, the soulful opener ‘Eu Quero Ver A Rainha’ (featuring Tim Maia), and many other samba funk jams. With the support of his backing band Trio Mocotó, Jorge brought Afro-American funk into the Tropicalia movement. Essential!

Massive reissue of a holy-grail 70s Brazilian LP. A little something for everyone, including Brazilian popular music (MPB), regional folk, soul and funk. Di Melo was a criminally under-recorded Brazilian singer, songwriter, painter and poet. If he had released more, he'd have been as celebrated as Jorge Ben...

Jazz Room Records deliver a massive reissue of a '71 Latin jazz essential. Red hot Afro-Cuban & Afro-Brazillian rhythms performed with no less than three Afro-Latin percussionists... add in a Fender Rhodes, flutes, saxophones AND triangles... Robin Jones, the Godfather of British Latin music, put it all out here on a remarkable first record. For the jazz dancers!