Review: Mr Bongo restock a brilliant 7" in their signature Brazil 45s series. The nineteenth to grace it, this blue-starred slice of small wax shone a light on Wilson das Neves' brilliant cover of Average White Band's 'Pick Up The Pieces' on the A, as well as a Mr Bongo fave on the B, Som Tres' potent samba-funk overflow 'Tanga'. The former flexes the historic muscles of a mythic Brazilian percussionist and vibesman, lending fidgety soft feels to AWB's already lull-lifting concoction; then 'Tanga' contrasts to this sense of measuredness with pure animal verve, as Tres' calls out to his bandmates commandingly amid whirlwinds of piano and drums.
Review: Mr Bongo's gold-standard Brazil-45 series turns up more irresistible musical goodness here with steamy underground bubbler 'Quero Ver Voce Sambar'. This is thought to be the only ever recording by Homero Franca and it came originally on a 7" in 1976. It's warm, soulful, quite deep for Latin music and has great vocals. On the flipside is the more fiery Silvinha tune 'Mas Nao Deixe De Ir' with the raw vocals and big horns all making for a great call and response chorus with soulful samba sounds to spare.
Review: This 7" delivers two rare treasures from the early 70s Latin underground, showcasing a blend of innovation and groove. Side-1 is an electrifying gem from 1971, driven by its creative vocal delivery and rhythmic Latin funk foundation. The track's raw energy and unique arrangement make it an irresistible dancefloor favorite. On Side-2, a 1973 classic merges Brazilian jazz with funk and soul, delivering a sophisticated yet infectious groove. Its lush instrumentation and smooth melodies create a heady, distinctive atmosphere, reflecting the musical experimentation of the era. Two tracks that encapsulate the spirit of a dynamic scene.
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series continues with aplomb... On their eighth outing we find the hugely prolific 60s/70s troubadour Wilson Simonal paying homage to the legendary Jorge Ben with two exemplary cover versions. Whether it's on the soft big band emphasis and teasing fills on "Zazueira" or the upbeat, feel-good swinger "Silva Lenheira" there's a raw clarity to Wilson's vocals that instantly endure; the way he pushes his voice to the very edge of breaking on the high notes and a rich, clear delivery, he's the consummate soulful showman.
Review: Rich gutsy soul from a man who's regularly described as Brazil's James Brown, "O Journalerio" is a blueprint funk jam. Released in 1971 (on his hyper-rare album BR-3) it's all about the orchestrated swing, bluesy groove and Hammond licks so lavish you need to towel on every listen. Flip for Som Tres... An off-shoot of the Sambalanco Trio, it's the sound of Cesar Camargo Mariano controlling a restrained rolling slice of filmic instrumental funk where horns, keys and drums gather momentum with big band drama. Neither have been released on 45" before, making this all the more special.
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