Various Artists; Bossa Nova and the Story of Elenco Records, Brazil (Soul Jazz/Southbound)

 |   |  <1 min read

Baden Powell: Candomble
Various Artists; Bossa Nova and the Story of Elenco Records, Brazil (Soul Jazz/Southbound)

The Elenco bossa nova label -- founded in Rio de Janeiro in '63 -- gets this well-annotated Gilles Peterson-complied 23 track disc (and a booklet with an essay) of great tracks by guitarist Baden Powell, the cool Quarteto Em Cy and others.

With the credibility and an in-house art style something akin to Blue Note in jazz, Elenco pulled together the finest bossa acts of the Sixties and wrapped them up in modernist, ultra-cool, high contrast photo covers (by Francisco Pereira) which get a number of pages to themselves in the booklet.

Musically it is all in the details -- the fluid flow of flute in the music of singer Vinicius, chic organ in Zanzibar by Edu Lobo, the shuffle rhythms and jazz piano of Roberto Menescal . . .

Nothing here by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendes -- both of whom recorded for the label -- but you are spoiled by the very cool and sophisticated cocktail hour music with this collection anyway.

Very hip.

Like the sound of this? Then check out this.

 

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

Pacific Curls: Pacifi Celta (Pacific Curls)

Pacific Curls: Pacifi Celta (Pacific Curls)

The trio at the core of Pacific Curls made two "interesting" albums, but "interesting" is a word which suspends judgment. They didn't win me much, but most of this one certainly... > Read more

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE WORLD MUSIC QUESTIONNAIRE:  Tami Neilson

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE WORLD MUSIC QUESTIONNAIRE: Tami Neilson

What can we say about the wonderful Tami Neilson – a longtime Elsewhere favourite – that we haven't said before? She turns in exceptional albums (her most recent Don't Be Afraid... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

QUEEN; FROM RAGS TO RHAPSODY a band-sanctioned doco. Director uncredited

QUEEN; FROM RAGS TO RHAPSODY a band-sanctioned doco. Director uncredited

There are artists you “get” (round here everyone from the Beatles and Supremes to Yoko Ono, Ornette Coleman and Sonic Youth). And there are those you just don't . . . Elsewhere... > Read more

THE BARGAIN BUY: ZZ Top; The Very Best of ZZ Top; Rancho Texicano

THE BARGAIN BUY: ZZ Top; The Very Best of ZZ Top; Rancho Texicano

In a few weeks -- perhaps far too soon for many -- the first 10 ZZ Top albums are being reissued in a box set. That's a whole lotta Top -- perhaps far too much for many -- but, if we might be... > Read more