Bossa Nova Songs

Jazz singer/songwriter Michael Franks is an artist most jazz fans feel strongly about one way or another. His unique, romantic poet-cum-laid-back hipster approach to jazz signing is breezy, light, and languid. It's also uniquely his own, though deeply influenced by Brazilian jazz, bossa, and samba. Time Together, his first recording of new material in five years – and his debut for Shanachie – is unlikely to change anyone's opinion of him, but that doesn't mean this is a rote recording. Time Together is an airy, groove-ridden summer travelog that ranges from St. Tropez and New York to Paris, France, and Egypt; it journeys through the nostalgic past and finds space in the present moment, with cleverly notated, languorous, ironic observations about life. Franks split the production and arranging duties between Charles Blenzig, Gil Goldstein, Chuck Loeb, Scott Petito, and Mark Egan. The rest of the international cast on this polished 11-song set includes old friends and new faces David Spinozza, Mike Mainieri, David Mann, Eric Marienthal, Till Brönner, Alex Spiagin, Jerry Marotta, Billy Kilson, Romero Lubambo, and backing vocalist Veronica Nunn.

In 2001 Bettina Mischke and Roland Grosch started their project Jazzamor. Influenced by the Bossa Nova and Latin Jazz of the 60s they developed their own style with Bettina’s voice making it unmistakeable. The arrangements are playful yet minimalistic with great care for detail. Electronic sounds blend with double bass and latino percussions. Melancholic piano aires invoke a blue mood with Bettina’s alluring soft voice giving it all a distinct color. In the beginning Jazzamor was a pure studio project but with their first life concert they began playing all over Europe and in Asia. Maybe the Jazzamor song "Travel…" was like a mission statement for their music. Where ever - in a cafe in Brazil, in a bar in Mosque or in a lounge in Singapore - their songs are on a journey around the world.

Volume 3 of the Chill Brazil series is compiled by the legendary Brazilian singer/songwriter Gilberto Gil, 'Chill Brazil 3' blends classic Soul Bossas culled from the Warner archives with the freshest voices in contemporary & electronic Brazilian music today. Classic artists such as Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, to name a few, combined with contemporary "Bossaists" Bebel Gilberto, Maria Rita (Elis Regina's daughter), Marcelinho Da Lua gives the perfect blend of the harmonic & rhythmic richness of these Brazilian Soul Bossas past, present & future.

Sérgio Mendes & Bossa Rio's Você Ainda Não Ouviu Nada! (1964) is a true milestone in the evolution of Brazilian instrumental music post-bossa nova. Infinitely sophisticated, but still full of swing, Bossa Rio (Tiao Neto, bass; Edison Machado, batteries, Edson Maciel, Raul de Souza and Hector Costita, metals) deal here with the reinvention of bossa classics and original songs.