Brazuca Sounds

In episode #56 we discuss one of the most important Brazilian record labels: Elenco. Founded in 1963 by Aloysio de Oliveira with the ambition of becoming the best bossa-nova label in the country, Elenco put together a constellation of big names and released a crazy amount of bossa-nova classics. We'll talk about albums from superstars Vinicius de Moraes, Roberto Menescal, Sylvia Telles, Edu Lo...

In episode #55 we celebrate the album "Índia", released by Gal Costa in July 1973. The album’s controversial cover was banned by the Brazilian military regime upon its release, but that was just one of the reasons it became so iconic. Gal Costa distanced herself from the Tropicália movement in "Índia" (like all her peers before her), showcasing a more stripped-down sound, influenced by folk (and f...

In episode #54, we tell the history of the most popular music genre in Brazil connected to the Northeast: forró. We also cover all its subtle variances, in genres like baião, xote, xaxado, and maracatu. We'll talk about key artists in forró such as Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Sivuca, and Dominguinhos, the female queens Marinês and Carmélia Alves, and the megahits from names like Ary Lobo, J...

In episode #53 we celebrate the album "Matita Perê" by Tom Jobim, released in May 1973 by Philips. Considered one of the inventors of bossa-nova, Jobim had astronomical success in Brazil and abroad (especially the USA), so for this album, he decided to explore new territories. Produced and arranged by German composer Claus Ogerman, he came up with a complex mix of nature-inspired sounds, Brazilian...

In episode #52 we talk about the album "Milagre dos Peixes" by Milton Nascimento, released in August 1973. Following the success of "Clube da Esquina" in 1972 Milton reunited with his band Som Imaginário to produce a follow-up as good (or better) than his previous masterpiece. "Milagre dos Peixes" had its lyrics heavily censored by the military regime, so it became an...

In episode #51 we discussed the impact of soap opera soundtracks on the Brazilian music industry. The scores were very often written/produced by big names such as Roberto Carlos/Erasmo Carlos, Marcos Valle, Baden Powell, and Vinícius de Moraes. We'll be playing songs performed by Osmar Milito, Chico Batera, Banda Black Rio, Lincoln Olivetti, and obscure jams from Kris & Cristina, Sonia Burnier...

In episode #50 we celebrate the album "Previsão do Tempo" by Marcos Valle, released in September 1973 by Odeon. After experimenting with different bands, and a handful of soundtracks under his name, Marcos Valle came up with his album masterpiece according to many critics. Backed up by the trio Azymuth, "Previsão do Tempo" is a blend of Brazilian MPB, with funk, soul, pop, and jazz, with a high vo...

In episode #49, we introduce a new wave of Brazilian music by presenting albums released in 2023 by Iara Rennó (pictured), Rodrigo Campos, and Bike. They all come out of São Paulo, summarizing a great variety of different genres, styles, and sounds historically being produced by the big city. Then we also quickly review the latest work by artists such as Glue Trip (Paraíba), Bala Desejo (Rio de Ja...

In episode #48, we expand on the Brazilian soul and funk from  Episode #11 and Episode #12 . We put together a list of great albums influenced by soul, funk and disco blended with the touch of regional rhythms. Among the artists discussed are Som Nosso de Cada Dia, União Black, Zeca do Trombone e Roberto Sax, Franko Xavier, Abaeté, Don Beto, and the megahits "Black Coco" by Painel de Controle...

In episode #47 we celebrate the album "Quem é Quem" by João Donato, released 50 years ago in September 1973. After a terrible divorce, Donato left the United States after 12 years and put together a great group of musicians, songwriters, and producers. A master on the piano (and accordion), "Quem é Quem" also shows João Donato singing for the first time, and playing the Fender...

In episode #46, we talk about Samba-Enredo, a sub-genre of modern samba made specifically for Carnaval. "Samba-enredo" translates literally as samba-theme, played by a samba school to narrate a historical event in a lyrical form. Over the years, however, many of those songs became popular beyond the Carnaval parade in February, even being recorded by famous artists. We introduce you to some of the...

In episode #45, we tell the history of samba in Brazil over 100 years. From its early days and songwriters like Noel Rosa, Ismael Silva (pictured), and "the singer of the masses", Orlando Silva, to more contemporary samba-makers such as João Nogueira, Candeia, and Zeca Pagodinho. We also play indispensable songs from Cartola, Carlos Cachaça, Adoniran Barnosa, and Bezerra da Silva by discussing the...

In episode #44, we celebrate the music of Nara Leão. Amongst one the pioneers of the bossa-nova movement in Rio de Janeiro, Nara Leão transcended the music genre. Considered by many the "Muse of Bossa Nova", Nara decided to distance herself from any label imposed by the media, blending the voice of favelas into her music by recording songs composed by legendary samba songwriters such as...

In episode #43, we celebrate the life of Pelé through the music that celebrated his football brilliance. During his life playing for Brazil and Santos, Pelé inspired songs from a variety of artists, such as Wilson Simonal, Jackson do Pandeiro, Caetano and, Gilberto Gil. Pelé, who also played the cavaquinho and guitar, was an avid songwriter and released albums partnered up with the likes of Elis R...

In episode #42, we continue our celebration of albums released 50 years ago in 1972 in addition to classics such as Transa, Clube da Esquina, Acabou Chorare, Tom Zé's self-titled, and Paulinho da Viola's Dança da Solidão. We will wrap up 2022 by listing a few more brilliant albums, from the iconic Arthur Verocai debut (cover) to releases of Lô Borges, Quarteto em Cy, Jards Macalé, Elis Regina, Elz...

In episode #33 we're celebrating the 80th birthday of Paulinho da Viola by discussing his phenomenal album "Dança da Solidão" (1972). Paulinho elevated samba into the mainstream in the 1970s, rejuvenating the most Brazilian-centric music genre. A brilliant guitarist, with an angelic voice, and poetic lyrics, he is o ne of the most iconic Brazilian musicians of all time. Paulinho da Viola was born...

In episode #40 we celebrate the life of Gal Costa by discussing her five best records: Gal Costa (1969), Gal (1969), Índia (1973), Cantar (1974) and Gal Tropical (1979). As an early bossa-nova singer moving from Bahia to Rio de Janeiro, Gal reached her golden era as part of the Tropicalia, a psychedelic-rock counter-culture movement in the late 1960s. In the 1970s Gal Costa explored different genr...

In episode #39 we finish our celebration of Tim Maia's 80th birthday by discussing 80 of his best songs (!!!). In this third and last episode, we talked about my favourite Top 20, from his Polydor-years classics to obscure gems like "Ar Puro" (82), "Verão Carioca" (77) and the mistankely overlooked ballad "Pelo Amor de Deus". We also discussed Tim Maia's mythology covering his fights and no-shows...

In episode #38 we resume our celebration of Tim Maia's 80th birthday by discussing 80 of his best songs (!!!). In this episode, we talk about his blend of soul, funk and forró, his multi-instrumentalist skills, and a lot of obscure gems including songs from his brilliant 1982 album "Nuvens". We also talk about Tim Maia unforgettable one-liners in Brazilian culture. Born on September 28th, 1942, Ti...

In episode #37 we celebrate the 80th birthday of the great Tim Maia by discussing 80 of his best songs (!!!). Born on September 28th, 1942, Tim Maia was a transformative figure in Brazilian music, a pioneer of funk, soul, disco, boogie, and black music in general. In this episode, we talk about his first singles, his songwriting in English, the adaptations of songs already written, and Tim Maia's...

In episode #36 we discussed the influences of Afro-Brazilian religions on the country's music. The podcast will showcase the countless references to Orixás from the Umbanda and Candomblé in Brazilian music, from various genres such as samba, funk, soul, samba-rock, and psychedelia. Some of the artists presented are Paulo Diniz, Jorge Mautner, Antonio Carlos & Jocafi, Os Tincoãs, Wando, Ronnie...

In episode #35 we celebrate Caetano Veloso's 80th birthday by discussing his songwriting credits. From Tropicalia, bossa-nova, MPB, samba, Eighties pop, carimbó, and everything else in between. One of the most iconic Brazilian musicians and songwriters of all time, Caetano Veloso was born on July 7th, 1942 in Santo Amaro, Bahia. This episode showcases music recorded by Os Mutantes, Gal Costa, Robe...

In episode #34 we continue our series celebrating albums released 50 years ago with the masterpiece "Acabou Chorare", released by Novos Baianos in September 1972. The album was listed as the best Brazilian album of all time by Rolling Stone magazine published in 2007. Inspired by several meetings with Joao Gilberto in the group's communal house outside Rio, the album focused on their...

In episode #33 we celebrate Gilberto Gil's 80th birthday by discussing his 1970s trilogy. Refazenda (1975), where Gil paid tribute to his Northeastern roots in Bahia after he came from his exile in London; Refavela (1977), a celebration of his African origins after a trip to Nigeria; and Realce (1979), influenced by the disco music and recorded in Los Angeles.

In episode #30 we discussed the psychedelic music coming out of Brazil by listing 10 fundamental albums. Brazilian psychedelia goes way beyond Tropicalia, with its influences not limited to rock but taken elements from Africa, samba, folk, and Brazilian regional rhythms. From percussionist master Pedro Santos to the Afrobeat ensemble Free Son to psychedelic bands such as Os Brazões, Karma, and Mod...