Carlos Fonseca

Bossa Nova translated as the "new beat" or "the new style", grew out of Rio De Janeiro in 1958. The instigators were a handful of artists with a desire to break from tradition, developing the samba rhythms with the influence of cool American jazz to find a music with such a warm soul and natural rhythm that no-one can help but tap and sway to its beat. Bossa Nova is palm trees swaying, it is like melting sugar in hot coffee, it is the setting sun and warm sand underfoot. It is the sound and beat of Brazil, it is one of the world's coolest musical styles and it remains to this day one of the world's great musical treasures.

Review
Paula Morelenbaum is known for absolutely authentic, traditional takes on bossa classis, particularly Tom Jobim, with whom she and her husband Jaques, performed. But here she is taking on the eletro/ bossacucanova/bebel/eletronica thing with rather strong results. My favorite track by far is the little samba well-known from the Black Orpheus soundtrack, Jobim's O Nosso Amor, which is rarely redone compared to other gems from that film. Here its just giddy with guitar by Luiz Brasil, shortened lyrics, and an almost childlike simplicity from the singer. The other tracks are also a pleasure – not only because they draw on wonderful, classic compostions but because every arrangement is unique and not much of her husband's cello has been shoehorned into the project (normally his playing is great, but
here it's really out of place.

By Eric Crawford - California, USA

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.