Septeto Nacional de Ignacio are one of the most important musical forces in Cuban music history. Founded by bassist and vocalist Ignacio Piniero in 1927, the group have been around ever since in various guises. Along with Arsenio Rodriguez they are regarded as pioneers of Son, a rhythmic blend of African and Cuban music. They were the first Son group to incorporate trumpet as the lead instrument and first gained international recognition following their performance at the World Exposition in Seville in 1928. Piniero died in 1968, following 41 years as the band's leader afterwhich Septeto Nacional De Ignacio Piniero has been directed by a series of new leaders. This fantastic CD follows the early career highlights of the group over 21 tracks.
One of the great legends of Cuban music, Miguelito Valdes, Senor Babalu, performed for five decades in Cuba and New York. He started off singing professionaly in Panama in the early 30s and in 1937 joined the popular Cuban orchestra, Casino de la Playa. He left Cuba for New York City in 1940, joining the Xavier Cugat band at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. He turned solo in 1942, at the height of popularity, recording for several labels and taking part in at least 12 movies. He went into semi-retirement from 1955 returning in 1963, hosting a television show. He died In 1978 in Bogota, Columbia. This fantastic CD compiled by Toyo Nakamura begins with a recording of Orquesta de la Playa, and features Valdes with Xavier Cugat Orchestra, with Machito y su Afro Cubans and with his own orchestra. 26 tracks. Price: £17.99
Compilation from Rice Records Japan of one of the greats of Brazilian music. Pixinguinha is probably the greatest choro composer, the original carnaval music, played on including flute, guitar, cavaquinho, trumpet, trombone and soprano sax. This superb collection of 24 tracks features several Pixinguinha classics including 'Lamento' culled from rare 78s and LPs, digitally remastered for CD.
Compiled by Makoto Kubota, second volume of Nordeste Atomico. More killer tracks from the Brazilian northeast and includes the unreleased Mio Mazda meets DJ Dolores on the deep samba mix of Cha De Camara and a field recording by Makoto Kubota. 17 pulsating tracks. Price: £17.99
Fantastic Makoto Kubota compilation of music from Recife, northern Brazil. Brazilian, rock and club music mixture. Chegada / Abissal E Os Caboclos Envenenados Vento Corredor (Tin E Cacapa) / Tin Gaiola De Saudade / Maciel Salu E O Terno Do Terreiro Maracatu Indiano / Maracatu Nacao Pernanbuco Mucun / Renata Rosa Evolucao de Bateria / Maracatu Nacao Estrela Brilhante O Samba Chegou / Bonsucesso SambaClube Container / Mombojo Caburera "Magistrado Ladrao" Parari / Biu Roque Asa Branca / Zabe da Loca Forro Do Camarao (trad.) Olha O Mateus / Orquestra Popular do Recife Atomico / Makoto Kubota Fuloresta Do Samba / Siba.
Produced by Katsunori Tanaka in 1991, an album of real Brazilian samba. Monarco became a member of the Velha Guarda da Portela in 1950 a group of composers from the legendary Portela samba school. His sambas have been recorded by many greats such as Martinho da Vila, Paulinho da Viola, Beth Carvalho, João Nogueira, Maria Creuza, Zeca Pagodinho and Clara Nunes. His first solo album as an interpreter was released in 1976 and this album was was first ever CD released only in Japan. Fantastic, bright, infectious stuff.
Price: £17.99
Recorded in Rio in 1986, Sargento was a part of the legendary Mangueira composer's group in the 1950s. Joined A Voz do Morro, and was included on the album "Roda de Samba 2". Composed many hits such as "Agoniza Mas Não Morre", "Idioma Esquisito", "Falso Amor Sincero" and others. Musicians include Rafael Rabello, Henriques Cazes (also co-producer) and a young Marcos Suzano.
Velha Guarda da Portela, “the old guard of the Portela tradition” are a group of veteran musicians from one of Brazil's most historical escola de samba, situated in Oswaldo Cruz, just outside Rio. Their infectious samba is typified by its communal feel with wild beats and joyous chorus parts. In 1986 Japanese producer Katsunori Tanaka traveled to their hometown to rehearse and record with them over several months. This album conveys the intimate atmosphere of a 1950s samba party played by master musicians from a 70 year old tradition, way before the modern glitz took over. Many of these musicians have subsequently died, but their music lives on with these glorious recordings of classic Portela samba. Price: £13.99
Another brilliant vintage samba album from the fantastic samba group recorded in Rio in 1989. Co-produced by Katsunori Tanaka with Henrique Cazes and Paulao, this one includes Paulao, Osmar, Alberto Lonato, Monarco, Francisco Santana, Casemiro, and Cabelinho.
A legend of Brazilian samba,, Noel Rosa died aged 26 in 1937. A prolific composer he wrote about 250 classic songs, 24 of which are included on this album. He dropped out of school and soon joined the group Bando dos Tangaras playing guitar. He sold some of his sambas to singers such as Mário Reis, Francisco Alves and Araci de Almeida. A sufferer of tuberculosis he was hospitalized for long periods before his death. Following his death he was in danger of being forgotten, but now is regarded as a legendary and fundamental figure of Brazilian music. Price: £17.99
The second volume of the Brazilian samba legend has 26 tracks, lovingly compiled and with rare photos.
Wilson Moreira is one of the top samba composers, behind many a great samba tune. He was a tamborim player at the Agua Branca samba school, later becoming passista (stylistic dancer) and founding a composer's wing. In 1965, he started his career as a singer and joined the composer's wing of the Portela samba school. He didn't release his first album until 1986, this album recorded in 1989 being his second album, only released in Japan and more recently Brazil.
Guilherme de Brito is slightly less known than other samba composers produced by Katsunori Tanaka in Rio de Janeiro, but this one recorded in 1988, is up to the usual high standard. Great songs and performance by musicians including Rafael Rabelo, Henrique Cazes, Chiquinho and Joel Nascimento.
Superb female samba singer recorded in 1989 featuring a host of different musicians, including the groups Velha Guarda da Portela, Orquestra de Cordas Brasileiras and Corao de Amigos. Great songs and singing. Price: £17.99
Ciro Monteiro was one of the greatest samba singers of all time, arguably alongside Carmen Miranda, Francisco Alves or Noel Rosa. His regular partner was Dias da Cruz. In 1939 he had a hit with "Mania da Falecida" followed in 1940 with "Beijo Na Boca" and the 1941 with "O Bonde de São Januário" which won the Carnival contest that year. Other hits on this album include "Os Quindins de Yaya" "A Mulher Que Eu Gosto" In 1953, he had success with "Escurinho", which this album concludes with and it's B-side "Tem Que Rebolar".
Choro is Brazilian instrumental music played on cavaquinho (small guitar), plus on this album, viola, violin, flute, clarinet, sax, percussion and contrabass. Led by the excellent Henriques Cazes, this fine groups plays songs suited to the choro style from Japan, Cuba, Venezuela, Hawaii and even China in addition to Brazil. Wonderful album recorded in Rio, produced by Katsunori Tanaka. Price: £18.99
First class CD of Brazilian choro - the original carnaval music, small combos of flute, guitar, cavaquinho with it's roots in Portuguese fado. Pixinguinha is sometimes called the father of Brazilian music, the greatest ever composer of choro and saxophone player, Benedicto Lacerda the greatest flute player. The treasured recordings date from between 1946 and 1951.
Old style Chorro, an instrumental music, played on cavaquinho (similar to ukulele) flute, viola and percusssion. Price: £18.99
Fascinating document that traces the history of choro, that begins and ends with new recordings. In between the listener is taken on a chronological journey starting in 1904 and ending in 1949. All the greats of the genre are represented, artists that went on to influence generations of Brazilian musicians since.
Veteran Brazilian samba musicians get together to recall the samba of a bygone era. Sounds like the Brazilian Buena Vista? Maybe, but it's actually an excellent, charming CD. Price: £18.99
Vintage recordings from the 1930s and onwards of the original funky style bossa nova.
Excellent compilation album of 'authentic' Brazilian samba, by veteran musicians. Price: £18.99
Legendary accordionist and singer, Luiz Gonzaga, the king of baiao, was the first big star of Brazilian nordestino styles, especially forro. Born in 1912, during the 40s he had many hits all included on this fantastic compilation.
Vintage recording of legendary group featuring the fantastic Carmen Miranda. Roots of samba, bossa nova and other styles of music. Price: £18.99
Wonderful collection of a flamenco legend. Pastora María Pavón Cruz. Seville, 1890 - 1969 was probably the most important ever woman singer in the history of flamenco. Undeniably the greatest singer of tangos, which she performed in an extraordinarily profound way, also petenera, the saeta, the greatest of the styles in Seville, in short the complete flamenco singer. In 1996 the Council for Culture of the Regional Government of Andalusia declared her voice an National Asset of Cultural Interest. These recordings date from the 1910s to 40s. Billy Holiday was among her admirers.
Forget the Bolivian cliche panpipes. A deeply strange album of Medeival voices and sounds with Bolivian traditional instruments and electronic accompaniment.
A real grower. Price: £18.99
All that you might expect, harps, marimbas, mariachi. Artists include Los 3 Amigos, Marimba Nandayapa.
