A dual Brazil and UK band, Soma Soma bridges the gaps between samba past, present, and future on “Laranjeiras.” And they do it very well.
Samba Gone Beyond
Tag: samba
Tried, True and Terrific
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’s Contrasts Returns Modern Bossa Nova in Style
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…
Gerardo Frisina & Toco Return with ‘Deixa Passar and Ilê’ EP
Gerardo Frisina and Toco, featuring Luzia Dvorek – Deixa Passar / Ilê (Schema Records, 2025) Five years after Frisina Meets Toco, Gerardo Frisina (Italy) and…
Brasil Calling: Volume 14 – A Vibrant Fusion of Traditional and Modern Sounds
Brasil Calling is a series of compilations designed to introduce new Brazilian talent to international media. In this case, the majority of the artists fall…
Joyful Brazilian Baião by Cirio
Amidst the flood of samba and bossa nova that’s been released over the decades, Brazilian baião music is sometimes overlooked. Whether or not a singer…
Mariah Parker’s Highly Satisfying Mix of Jazz and Samba
There’s been many a meeting between jazz and the rhythms of Latin America, and “Espiritu Samba” by American pianist Mariah Parker is a prime example…
Inventive Samba Variation by John Finbury
Composed and produced by American John Finbury and sung by Brazilian Bruna Black, “Vã Revelação” (“Vain Revelation”) gives the familiar warmth of samba an extra…
Easygoing Afro-samba by Pedro Bezerra
A moody, mellow take on Afro-samba with prominent piano and airy vocals,”Na Beira do Mar” by Brazil’s Pedro Bezerra shows just how resilient and satisfying…
Swinging Bossa Nova by Thalerg
Bossa Nova has long had worldwide recognizability, and that is as it should be. Parisian pianist and composer Thalerg has his own authentic take called…