Grupo Bongar + Maga Bo – Macumbadaboa (Kafundó Records KAX014, 2019) Macumbadaboa gathers the Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble Grupo Bongar, from Pernambuco, with producer and DJ…
Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Monica Avila pays tribute to the orixá Obatalá in her latest release, Obatalá é Rei. The single blends Yoruba prayer, Afro-Brazilian percussion, and…
French guitarist Christophe Duflos brings the familiar feel of bossa nova to new horizons through “Bossarena,” a piece flavored not only by some fine trumpeting…
(headline image: Berimbau) The berimbau is a single-stringed musical bow that functions as both instrument and cultural emblem. Though now most closely associated with Brazil,…
A Brazilian duo called Máquina Voadora mixes dance rhythms from their home country with rock, jazz and soul overtones on a track called “A hospedaria…
Bruna Black and John Finbury – Vã Revelação (Green Flash Music, 2024) The first time I heard Vã Revelação, Bruna Black’s voice curved around the…
Mamah Soares, a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Salvador, Bahia, returns with Banho de Abô, a new single released on June 13 via Kaxambu Records. Featuring…
The longstanding relationship between jazz and samba remains as strong as ever, with “Afosamba” by Brazilian pianist Antonio Adolfo and his octet a shining example…
Marcos Valle – Contrasts (Far Out Recordings, 2025 reissue) Originally released in 2003, Contrasts marked a pivotal moment in Marcos Valle’s late-career resurgence. It combined…
American singer Carrie Marshall combines the sway of a bossa nova rhythm with silky smooth vocals and the added sweetening of Appalachian-style fiddle on “Southern Shade…