Label: Verve Records
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2009.09.29

Gilberto’s fourth album All In One is her debut album for Verve Records label. Known worldwide for her ability to connect modern sounds with the heart and soul of Brazilian music, the New York-born Gilberto focuses on the rhythms of her native country, devising a cosmopolitan yet classic sound with the help of a diverse group of collaborators, including Carlinhos Brown (Caetano Veloso), Didi Gutman (Brazilian Girls), Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), Daniel Jobim (grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim) and John King (the Dust Brothers). All In One perfectly expresses Gilberto’s interest in making music that feels romantic and fluid. In particular, Most of the record is sung in Portuguese, Bebel’s native language, and was conceived, developed and recorded in her home studio.

Label: Heinz Records
Country: United States
Release Date: 2009.10.27

Splendor In The Grass, the fourth album from the celebrated and beloved 12-piece little orchestra Pink Martini. Splendor In The Grass was recorded in Portland, Oregon at Kung Fu Bakery, by engineer Dave Friedlander (Prince, The Decemberists) and was produced by Pink Martini bandleader/pianist Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini lead vocalist China Forbes and longtime collaborator and muse Alex Marashian. Marashian, who directed the band’s only music video, “Sympathique,” in summer of 1999, was editor in chief of Colors Magazine in Paris in the mid-1990s and is currently editor-at-large of Another Magazine.
Splendor in the Grass is composed of nine original songs and four covers, with songs in English, Neapolitan, Italian, French and Spanish. The album also features four guest stars: the legendary 90-year old Mexican ranchera singer–and one-time lover of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo–Chavela Vargas sings the Agustin Lara classic “Piensa En Mi;” Emilio Delgado aka “Luis” on the American children’s television show “Sesame Street” duets with China in a multi-lingual cover of Joe Raposo’s “Sing;” NPR justice correspondent Ari Shapiro makes his solo singing recording debut in “But Now I’m Back;” and Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols plays electric guitar on “Splendor In The Grass.”
“From start to finish, I loved working on this album,” says Lauderdale. “I honestly love it and could listen to it over and over. Each song is filled with references and back stories and adventures,” he continues. “Franz Schubert’s `Fantasy for Piano for Four Hands,’ for example, directly inspired two of the songs we wrote: `And Then You’re Gone’ sung by China Forbes and its companion piece `But Now I’m Back’ sung by Ari Shapiro, who during the day serves as justice correspondent for National Public Radio. `Tuca Tuca’–originally sung by the great Italian singer Rafaella Carra–features a sitar solo played by our bassist Phil Baker, performed on the actual sitar played by Peter Sellers in the 1968 film The Party. `New Amsterdam’–composed by the blind homeless composer Moondog (who dressed as a Viking and stood on Sixth Avenue in New York City for nearly three decades)–is, in my opinion, the most beautiful song ever written about New York. We found a most amazing choir of young people here in Portland called the Pacific Youth Choir to record the chorus. Meanwhile, the chorus at the end of `Sing’ is comprised of the office staff of Pink Martini, the Royal Blues of Grant High School in Portland (my alma mater) and the staff and friends of Portland Mayor Sam Adams. For me, this album is all about participating in the world…being part of it, being out in the street and finding the incredible beauty in the activities and unfoldings of every day.”

Label: Schema
Country: Italy
Release Date: 2009.10.15

A real rising star on Schema Records — composer Alessandro Magnanini, best known for his hit with Mario Biondi — stepping out here in a beautiful album of his own original music! There’s a fresh feel here that really opens up a new chapter at Schema — still a bit of their old jazz/bossa vibe, but with a more expansive quality too — one that embraces bits of Bacharach, snaps of 60s soundtracks, and gentler jazzier passages too — all put together by a group that features key talents from the contemporary Italian scene — like vocalists Rosalia De Souza and Stefania Rava, trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso, and other instrumentalists on vibes, piano, tenor, and trombone. Most instrumentation is live — scored nicely, but not enough so that it loses the spontaneity of jazz — and other vocals are by Jenny B and Liam McKahey. The work is really beautiful — still mostly upbeat, but hardly just the stuff of dancefloor grooving too — key proof that Maganini’s a big talent to watch in years to come. Titles include “Livin My Life”, “Open Up Your Eyes”, “Stay Into My Life”, “But Not For You”, “Greetings From Here”, “Something Fine”, “Suddenly”, “Blind Date Blues”, and “So Long Goodbye”. (by dusty groove)

Label: Phantom
Country: Belgium
Release Date: 2009.12.08

Since 1996, Dirk Swartenbroekx (Belgium) is making records under the name of Buscemi, one of his favorite actors. His style is deep. Difficult to categorise: nu bossa, house music, brazilian grooves, afrobeat, jazzy electro, balkan mish mash… Dirk has released 10 EP’s, 4 fully-fledged CDs, 2 compilations for the famous Blue Note label, one mixcompilation for Ministry of Sound Germany and one compilation of the remixes he did between 1997-2005. Buscemi’s fame as remixer is rapidly spreading. He reworked tracks for bands like Beach Boys, Suba, Madredeus and Calexico. Buscemi is much in demand as DJ (eclectic, warm and deep stylee!).

Label: ChinChin Records
Country: Germany
Release Date: 2009.11.23

Club des Belugas is one of the leading lounge & nujazz projects in Germany, perhaps in Europe. They combine Contemporary European Lounge & Nujazz Styles with Brazilian Beats and American Black Soul of the fifties, sixties and seventies, using their unique creativity and intensity.
Main members are Maxim Illion & Kitty the Bill, with such exquisite guests as the Californian Jazz Lady Brenda Boykin, trumpeter Reiner Winterschladen (Nighthawks), Swedish singer anna.luca, London based Jazz singer Iain Mackenzie, Anne Schnell from Jojo Effect, Dean Bowman from New York and trumpet player Thomas Siffling. (by chinchin)

Label: Six Degrees
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2009.07.07

Ever since Brazilian phenomenon Céu captivated the world with her self-titled debut album in 2007, her follow up release has been widely anticipated. After being chosen as the first international artist featured in Starbucks Hear Music™ Debut series, Céu earned both Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, countless press accolades, and chart topping numbers. So how does one of the most successful Brazilian female artists of our time respond? With her typical grace and artistry.

Label: Nacional Records
Country: Venezuela
Release Date: 2009.06.09

You gotta give it to them; Los Amigos Invisibles have earned themselves a spot as a major transcendental band that goes beyond playing ‘Latin rhythms’, they’re Venezuela’s most predominant asset and their sixth studio album is more than a continuum to a healthy career with plenty to say and breath. For the first time they dispatch the word ‘Venezuela’ from the album title, luckily the vision has not blurred a bit, but they are making precise alterations that step them out of comfort zone. I’ve always found their music very muscular, perhaps because I feel my muscles intensified while dancing to it, but also because their gozadera functions around sensuality, and although their first albums had an exceptional pedestrian sound to them, Superpop Venezuela was a turning point as it curved their exercise into an actual ‘erotic dream.’

Commercial reinforces moments of arousal and anticipation, and in a way this is their most romantic hour yet, but their scrumptious cynicism is bound to stay for everyone’s pleasure. On a recent podcast on Panamerika the guys from Jovenes y Sexys totally nailed it with their description of the band: “the most emblematic band from Venezuela and the one that best represents the idiosyncrasy of the lazy, vulgar and macho Venezuelan persona.” I think these positive adjectives would be hard to understand by other cultures, it really takes a Latin mindset (from a Latino or someone fully aware of our culture) to process the acid humor and commentary Los Amigos bring into their music and most importantly, as a behavioral impulse. I mean, just go to the album’s booklet, find the ‘thank you list’ and after listing their love partners they give the last shout out to “Manuela”, who keeps them company during extensive touring, if you get it (or not) than you probably get my point.

“Fuerza” is a fantastic introduction, they give themselves some pretty legit words to tell the world what their made up; “strength, power, durability …, versatility, potency, comfort, elegance, vanguard” among others, anything to get you ready for the incredible leading single. “Mentiras” is the denial anthem for those filthy naughty cheating guys; the first words of the song “esas son puras mentiras” place the listener right on the spot. Its narrative is so instant and urgent as if it was made for a sitcom, I mean this song would be great as a leading song for a telenovela, there’s not too many made for guys and those around would hardly strengthen the image of a Don Juan. The disc immediately follows with the single’s counterpoint, “Vivire Para Ti” is one of the sweetest songs to have flourished from them. It promises fidelity and to make love a reason to live, the response comes from Natalia Lafourcade’s gifted vocals that embrace the gentleman’s proposition as they get inspired and make love.

The band continues to expose its tropical rhythms to an audience that wouldn’t listen to salsa or merengue, but these guys keep contemporary tropical rolling into new horizons. Some of the standout tropical pieces include the smothering “Loco Por Tu Amor”, the half merengue half metallic “Merengue Killa”, and a trip to Brazil in “Es La Verdad.” But the juiciest song here has to be “Oyeme Nena”, it steps away from any spice of funk or house to reveal itself as a beautiful salsa; actually, the best salsa moment I’ve had since Marc Anthony’s tremendously impressive soundtrack for El Cantante. “Plastic Women” is bound to have some attention; a woman’s road to perfection in the hands of plastic surgery. And, don’t skip the interludes, they’re probably are the year’s best, in particular “Desnudos” and “Romantico Palman Izum” which you’ll be playing over and over as the album itself. By the end of the album you’ll be nodding your head in agreement with the album’s confident and proper intro. (by carlos reyes)

Label: ESL Music
Country: Argentina
Release Date: 2008.06.10

Natalia Clavier is an Argentinian vocalist who wants to cover a lot of ground on Nectar, which examines the juices of her inner being. The album features elements of soul, funk, disco, folk, pop, dub, electronica, down tempo, and jazz, creating sounds that will definitely appeal to fans of Portishead, Jazzanova, Jaga Jazzist, Supreme Beings Of Leisure, and and Soulstice. Those who are familiar with Clavier will know that she has often performed in English and languages other than Spanish, so for this one she decided to go back to her roots and sing for herself, her home, and her people. The album works as something to listen to as a chillout album, or something to dance the night away, but for those who may want to listen deeper, she has a lot to offer. Her songs would easily appeal to the likes of Laura Pausini and Alejandra Guzman, and with luck Clavier’s career and songs will last as long as these two ladies. Her voice is neither strong nor weak; she fits perfectly in the middle and even when she tries to sing in a manner that is beyond her capabilities, she realizes this and turns around in the hopes of finding another path to make the song stronger. This shows up in “Dormida,” but as far as showing her strengths, “Azul” is definitely a key track and one that will make Clara Hill fans turn around and take notice. (by John Book)

Label: Schema
Country: Italy
Release Date: 2009.04.27

“Moon In Libra” comes after a period of four years dedicated both to the production of “Outro Lugar” by Toco and to the search of a more mature and personal language. The album follows the same artistic path of the previous ones with a renewed passion for the Brazilian sonorities from the ’60s, and is influenced by the soul jazz atmospheres connected to noir movies. The project confirms the participation of well-known artists in the Milanese jazz scene such as Laura Fedele, Angie Brown, Manuela Ravaglioli, Toco, Adi Souza, Kal Dos Santos (Mitoka Samba), and Daniel Richards (appearead in Fedreghini & Bianchi’s project) performing a reinterpretation of “Stormy”, influenced by the bossa nova and Bobbie Gentry’s folk. Among the tracks we find a cover of “My Only Man” by Piero Umiliani originally singed by Helen Merrill and here revisited in an uptempo key without losing the original orchestral mood. We also bring the attention to Marco Decimo’s cello (Ludovico Einaudi’s collaborator) who gives a touch of elegance and intensity to some pieces. (by soul seduction)

Label: Diquela Records
Country: Spain
Release Date: 2009.03.17

Aocaná means “Now” in the Spanish Romany language of caló and the album begins with “Todos Mortales” which is classic Ojos with a base of Catalan Rumba, a memorable melody and a tasty scratchy topping; “Nueva Vida” is a tango/rumba inspired by Marina’s recent motherhood. “Dónde te has metío” is a funky rapped rhumba with cajón and scratchismo while “Corre Ve Y Dile” (Run Go Tell Him) is about women and war: “How absorbed the women weave, with black thread and lace adornments, a tapestry of a boy laughing innocent, among grenades and rivers of blood.
“Una Verdad Incómoda” is a “Jipjopaos” Tango with tabla plus Kumar helping out; “Baraka” has elements of Tango, Rumba and Bolero and is a poignant description of the life of an immigrant and his feelings of solitude and constant struggle; “Rumba Del Adios” is where Rumba Catalana meets Salsa with a jazz horn arrangement garnish; a melancholy 7/4 intro featuring mandolin and violin announces the Electronic Bulería of “Tócale ya”; “Busca Lo Bueno” is a joyful Rumba in 5/4 featuring Cuba’s legendary Los Van plus Cuban pianist Roberto Carcassés. Prior to his involvement with OdB Xavi Turull led an outfit called Amalgama who collaborated with India’s Karnataka College of Percussion – “Tantas Flores” shows the relationship is still strong. On “Perico Y Juliana” Marina sings of a couple who only have their love to cling to in these hard times to a fine melody underpinned by Rumba, Flamenco and Cuban Timba; “Lluvia” is a down tempo meditation and literally ends “Aocaná” with a splash. In a world where music becomes more bland and inconsequential Ojos de Brujo still mean it. Their passion, experimentation and collaborative nature is real and ongoing and “Aocaná” is a testament to their collective adventurous spirit.