Yes bluemonkeyflier, I am corresponding with you. Here is a sample of Elis Regina late in her career (she died in 1982 of a drug and alcohol overdose): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIEUw9SuLP0. Here is a song from her "Elis and Tom" album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF_Ekf6nHj8 Again, she could sing Bossa Nova, but her voice is much more versatile than Astrud Gilberto's (Astrud's voice is quite charming, naive, and child-like, and it has its place in Brazilian music, but I wouldn't categorize her as strictly MPB---she is more "Pop"). Here is Elis at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1979: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwEuzgWHWy8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEQMnuTzaD4 and here is "Cobra Criada" of her at Montreux 1979 (well recorded---you can get the whole album): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PamVOZS6l3g "Cai Dentro" (again 1979 Montreux): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vfY-WtD3Wg Elis singing
OU BOLA OU BÚLICA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvY2NB4RtR0 Of Lee Ritenour, I became of big fan of his in 1979 with his "Rio" album. Great early Proto-Smooth Jazz, and it certainly piqued my interest in Brazilian music again. Ivan Lins is known in the US, and he's great, no doubt. I have almost all his CDs. Here is his discography (Wikipedia):
Discography[edit]
- Agora (1970)
- Deixa O Trem Seguir (1971)
- Quem Sou Eu (1972)
- Modo Livre (1974)
- Chama Acesa (1975)
- Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite (1977)
- Começar de novo (1977)
- Nos Dias de Hoje (1978)
- A Noite (1979)
- Novo Tempo (1980)
- Daquilo Que Eu Sei (1981)
- Depois dos Temporais (1983)
- Juntos (1984)
- Ivan Lins (1986)
- Mãos (1987)
- Love Dance (1988)
- Amar Assim (1989)
- Awa Yiô (1993)
- A Doce Presença de Ivan Lins (1994)
- Anjo de Mim (1995)
- I'm Not Alone (1996)
- Acervo Especial, Vol. 2 (1997)
- Ivan Lins/Chucho Valdés/Irakere/Ao Vivo (1996)
- Viva Noel: Tributo a Noel Rosa Vols. 1, 2 (1997)
- Live at MCG (1999)
- Dois Córregos (1999)
- Um Novo Tempo (1998)
- A Cor Do Pôr-Do-Sol (2000)
- Jobiniando (2001)
- Love Songs - A Quem Me Faz Feliz (2002)
- I Love Mpb - Amor (2004)
- Cantando Histórias (2004)
- Acariocando (2006)
- Saudades de Casa (2007)
- Regência: Vince Mendoza (2009)
Many of his albums are out of print as well as his CDs, but I have managed to import most of them. I love his stuff, he writes pretty music, and his collaborations with Lee Ritenour are indeed classic.
Like Astrud Gilberto? Well, there is Wanda da Sah, a contemporary of Astrud's, another Brazilian girl singer. Here are samples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T05yp7hKPds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpqvv-vh1ok Her voice is breathy like Astrud's, but she is a better singer, in my opinion (she sings on key, where Astrud might deviate a bit). She was the original singer with Sergio Mendes and Brasil '65. Yes, there was a Brasil '65 before the commercially successful Brasil '66. In fact Brasil '65 played Bossa Nova more authentically, but it did not take off. So Wanda was dropped and Lani Hall (who could only sing Portuguese phonetically) and Janis Hansen were brought in---and the rest is history.
I would just suggest that you might do your due diligence regarding MPB. There were so many artists: Gal Costa, Chico Buarque, Fatima Guedes (pronounced "Fatshima Gedge") Here is a duet between Elis Regina and Fatima Guedes (song by Fatima Guedes, circa 1978--Meninas de Cidade--"Women of the City"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyQHC0MbB1g Fatima is not well known in the US but well worth knowing.
I have to mention Flora Purim (her husband is Airto Moreira, the percussionist). She is Brazilian, and she sings MPB, but she is more categorized as Jazz Fusion, and she is better known in the United States. She has a five octave voice and is worth listening to. I think she is considered the "Queen of Jazz Fusion."
I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg regarding MPB. It is literally a passion of mine.
I like Jeff Beck. I feel one of his best albums was 1977's "Blow By Blow"---a landmark Jazz Fusion Album. I'm a big fan of '70's jazz Fusion. Love Miles Davis in his Jazz Fusion period, but his work is not accessible---it takes a lot of work to listen to his music.
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I'd like to ask you some question about the Fostex T50 RP but I will leave it for another post. Mine is unmodded, but I like it just the same --- plays beautifully straight off my iMac 2012, but I have audiophile aspirations.