Otto – Special001 – A Tribute to Latin Rhythm, Bossa, Samba and Jazz

25. Feb, 2009 Comments

“Once in a while I’ll drop a special into the mix (no pun intended!)

For the first one I decided to dig through the many “Latin” records, CD’s and downloads I’ve acquired over the years. The rhythm of Bossa, Samba, Latin Jazz and Cuban music has over the years formed a major part of my soundtrack and I’ve always loved the Bossa sounds of the 60′s and 70′s. Some of the tracks will sound familiar or remind you of something you might have heard before. Some of it will hopefully be completely new (and hopefully enjoyable) to you. In the track listing I will go through each track with a bit more detail:

Track listing

Soneto De Amor Total – Samba En Preludio ( a great little intro, this spoken word is a traditional love sonnet)

The Girl from Ipanema – Astrud Gilberto ( too classic to ignore, this recording is straight off a 1971 Verve Records pressing, static, crackle and all!)

Nem vem que nao tem – Wilson Simonal ( I first heard this track on Giles Peterson in Brazil. A gem from 1967).

Amor em Paz – Toquino ( a great little guitar number, this track puts me in a warm but melancholic mood and with a title meaning ‘once I loved’, it kinda seems appropriate).

La Gloria Eres Tu – Rubén González (Rubén González was one of the last of Cuba’s great Afro-Cuban piano players, recording for the first time in 1943. He is probably best remembered for his involvement on the Beuna Vista Social Club and the Afro Cuban All Stars. He passed away in Havana in 2003 at the grand old age of 84. Wonderful tempo changes.

Tokio – Hector Costita Sexo (60′s Latin Jazz at its best).

Fundamento – Pedro Luis Ferrer (Tradional Cuban music with a twist. Taken from the 2008 album Rustico, this track has suprisingly strong social commentary in the lyrics).

Berimbau – Golden Boys (1969 Brazillian classic, this track typifies the sound of the era)

Vamos Embora Uau – Bossa Jazz Trio ( a classic Brazilian jazz track)

Mas Que Nada – Maria Creuza (originally written and performed by Jorge Ben in 1963, it later became the signature song of Brazilian musician and performer Sergio Mendes. He covered it again with The Black Eyed Peas but hopefully you will forget that quickly after hearing this!)

Nova Bossa Nova – Marcos Valle (This track was released in the 1990′s and celebrated the 40th anniversary of Bossa Nova Marcos Valle, the original ‘boy from Ipanema” and one of the most important composers and innovators in this genre. The funkier sound of this track brings bossa bouncing back).

Canto De Ossanha – Trio Maraya (Regarded as one of the defining tracks of the era originally on Baden Powell and Vinicius Moraes’ seminal ‘Afro-samba’ LP. Trio Maraya recreate the atmosphere originally intended with added vocal harmonies enlightening the experience).

Chan Chan – Buena Vista Social Club (I had to include this! The track was one of Compay’s last compositions. Written in 1987 it quickly became the Buena Vista’s calling card).

Samadhi – Tenorio Jr (This emotive track was taken from Tenorio’s 1964 album on RGE records. This Sau Paulo based label was one of several regarded as key influencers to the international popularisation of Brazilian music).

Meu Amigo Charlie Brown – Benito Di Paula (Coining a different style of samba, which consists of weepy vocal interpretations at the piano, Benito di Paula became one of the exponents and fathers of the “sambão-jóia,” This 1975 track was one of his biggest hits and brings back fond memories of my mother – RIP)”