Led by producers Ian Guenther and Willi Morrison, the THP Orchestra was a Euro-disco outfit that recorded in Toronto, Canada in the late '70s. THP wasn't actually based in Europe, although its three albums reflected the Guenther/Morrison team's appreciation of the type of sleek and glossy (but sometimes funky) dance music was coming out of Germany, France, and other European countries at the time…
Recorded between 1966 and 1971, these four LPs presented here on two CDs represent Baden Powell at his best. Roberto Baden Powell de Aquino was one of Brazil's greatest guitarists of the Bossa Nova Generation. On these recordings Powell plays some of his own best known compositions: Canto de Ossanha, Samba Triste, Samba em Preludio, E de Lei… He plays classics by other Brazilian writers: Manha de Carnival, Das Rosas, Dindi… He plays some jazz standards: Round Midnight, All the Things You are… He also shows the influence of classical music, Especially J S Bach - Invencao em 7 1/2 (double tracked with one part at double speed.) The performances display superb sense of timing and great improvisational skills. Mostly he is accompanied by a Brazilian rhythm section but on Poema he uses a jazz rhythm section. This is the essential Baden Powell.
Astrud Gilberto, the Brazilian canary with the voice like honey and diction that defied belief, has been compiled many times on Verve, but rarely as well as on her entry in 2003's The Diva Series. A 21-track of her prime decade, the '60s, this one includes all of the classics associated with her: "The Girl From Ipanema," "Agua de Beber," "Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)," "So Nice (Summer Samba)," and "Dindi." Not all of her LPs have been reissued on CD (in the States), so the compilers also added tracks that may surprise a few Gilberto fans, like "Eu e Voce" and "Canto de Ossanha (Let Go)."
Since 1987, the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild has been bringing many high caliber jazz performers to the Pittsburgh area to perform live, in front of enthusiastic audiences. Those who have graced the stage at Manchester Hall have included McCoy Tyner, Shirley Horne and Dave McKenna, to name just a very few.