Infectious Café

Various Artists

Putumayo Presents: Brazilian Cafe (Putumayo, 2009)

Just in time for the dog days of summer is the sultry Putumayo Presents Brazilian Café. Ripe with enough sassy sambas, brightly colored bossa novas and delightfully dishy Brazilian jazz to spice up a poolside party or brighten a lazy afternoon, Brazilian Café captures the evocative lure that is Brazil. Deliciously rich as strong cafezinho and musically curvaceous as a Brazilian beauty, this CD finds the sweet spot and wallows in it. Pooling artists like Ana Costa, Márcio Faraco and Toco, not only brings listeners the latest musicians on Brazil's musical landscape but also donates a portion of its sales to the Terra dos Homens Brazilian Association, a group that offers assistance to at-risk children and teenagers, making this recording a truly feel-good venture.
 

Opening with swinging "Embola Bola" with dreamy vocals by singer/songwriter Djavan, Brazilian Café dives right into the hip and happening. Following with the velvety vocals of singer, composer and guitarist Márcio Faraco on "Na Casa Do Seu Humberto" and the equally wonderful vocals of Teresa Cristina and her Grupo Semente on the samba "Para Não Contrariar Você," Brazilian Cafe is downright yummy. It just better with sparkling vocals of Ceumar on her bossa nova track "Feliz e Triste" and seductive lure of Katia B on "Viajei." Other dishy tracks include the jazzy "Pequena Música Nocturna" by Rosa Passos, the sassy "Vumbora Amar" by Alexandre Leão and the bright smoothness of Caetano Veloso's "Força da Imginação" by Arranco de Varsóvia.

Hip and saucy, Brazilian Café is intoxicating, so much so that if you can listen to this CD without moving a muscle seek medical attention immediately.

Buy the CD:

• In North America: Putumayo Presents: Brazilian Cafe