EM NOME DA MULATA E DO SAMBA AMEN

Listen to EM NOME DA MULATA E DO SAMBA AMEN by Jair Rodrigues.

This song has more in common with Bob Wills than one might think. Antique, dedicated to motion, serious about its fun.

MAIS UM ADEUS

MAIS UM ADEUS by Toquinho & Marilia.

Last night I got an email from my friend Jason in London at about 9:15 p.m., leading to an electronic scolding from me. Five hours ahead of us, he really should be in bed by then. Fast forward ahead a few hours, and the last thing I saw before I passed out was another email from Jason, this one at 9:15 a.m. London time. Work that one out, but what I'm trying to say is I'm a little struggling today, so my commentary on this song is brief. It's a very soothing song, and here's how Loronix describes the album: "Musica Nova is that kind of album that saves your whole day if you take it for a hearing in the morning as your first thing you do." If only that were true. Have a good weekend!

LISTEN.

Photo: How long it takes (3).

A AGUA NEGRA DA LAGOA

A AGUA NEGRA DA LAGOA by Toquinho.

Music blogs come in different shapes and sizes. Some people are plugged into the music industry and most of their content is generated largely by freebie new material that gets sent to them. Some have their hands on huge, massive LP collections, along with the specialized knowledge that comes from years of collecting.

Of the latter group is a blog called Loronix. It's a Brazilian group blog that posts just incredible volumes of music every single day. Most of it out of print not just here but in Brazil. It's completely overwhelming, and so impressive. They need, and I'm not surprised if there are in fact, a whole substructure of blogs that cherry pick the best material and reposts it in curatorial style.

That's what we're doing today and Friday here. This track opens Toquinho's second solo album, and it's characteristic of its easy beauty. Here's how Loronix describes it (enjoy the slightly awkward English):

What a nice surprise! Toquinho is strongly associated with Vinicius de Moraes on a partnership that started in 1970 and last for more than a decade. What amazes me most in this album is that Toquinho is alone here and probably doing whatever he wants on the set.

We can listen Toquinho vocals on 3 songs, Agua Negra de Lagoa, Zana e Dobrando a Esquina, Jorge Ben duets with Toquinho on the legendary song Que Maravilha and Carolina, Carol Bela. Paulinho Nogueira is also here on Bachianinha #1 playing guitar with Toquinho.

Toquinho guitar playing is powerful and can be heard out loud throughout the entire LP.

LISTEN.

Photo: How long it takes (2).

CAROLINA CAROL BELA

CAROLINA CAROL BELA by Toquinho and Jorge Ben.

Let's ease into Monday shall we? I haven't posted anything from Brazil in awhile, and I feel bad for that. Yes, it's in a different language, but (to overgeneralize wildly) Brazilian music is some of the sweetest, most accessible music in the world.

Carolina Carol Bela is sweet and accessible indeed. Toquinho isn't exactly an obscure figure, but nothing compared to Jorge Ben, whom even us poor Okies have heard of! I have copies of the song on three different albums/compilations, and it's well enough known to have a big D&B single built around it, and a Youtube video! So I'm not giving you anything totally rare (that will come later in the week), but something you can listen to and enjoy any time.

LISTEN.

Photo: How long it takes (1).