Sergio Mendes Brasileiro CD

Sergio Mendes has long been a leading practitioner of the fusion of Brazilian rhythms with North American pop sensibilities. BRASILEIRO is an almost purely Brazilian record, drenched with the folk and urban music of Rio, Bahia, and Brazil's Northeast. It features performances and compositions from some of the true heroes of contemporary Brazilian music, most notably Hermeto Pascoal, Ivan Lins, and diamond-in-the-rough Joao Bosco.

The opening cut, "Fanfarra (Cabua-Le-Le)," begins with the huge, exuberant sound of a 100-drummer-strong samba school, recorded in a Rio parking lot. By turns tribal and cosmopolitan, track after track takes you on a tour of the real Brazilian musical landscape (with the occasional funky side trip), always rooted in drumming and percussion. Most of the lyrics are in Portuguese, but the overall impression is as familiar and cheering as sunlight. Bossa nova fans take note--this is not your mother's bossa nova record: it's a gorgeous amalgam of rhythm and arching melody, a tropical delight.

Recorded at Polygram and Som Livre Studios in Rio de Janeiro from April to October, 1991. Includes liner notes by Chris McGowan.

Personnel includes: Sergio Mendes (vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion); Joao Bosco (vocals, acoustic guitar); Carlinhos Brown (vocals, percussion, background vocals); Claudio Nucci, Carmen Alice, Jurema Silva, Jussara Silva, Karla Preito, Leila Monjardim, Francisca Maria Monjardim, Leo Silva, Robson Silva, Lourenco Olegario, Gracinha Leporace, Kevyn Lettau, Carol Rogers, Joe Pizzulo (vocals); Tiao Neto, Claudio Jorge, Guinga (acoustic guitar); Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar); Steve Tavaglione (flute, oboe, alto & tenor saxophone); Carlos Malta (flute, saxophone); Jerry Moore (tenor saxophone); Robbie Buchanan, Russell Ferante (keyboards, synthesizer); Eric Persing (keyboards, synthesizer programming); Alfredo Moura (keyboards, synthesizers, background vocals); Itibere Zwarg, Arthur Maia, Nathan East, Jimmy Johnson (bass); Jeffrey Porcaro (drums, percussion); Carlos Bala, Marcio Bahia (drums).

Vai Quem Vem: Carmen Alice, Leo Bit-Bit, Leninho, Sinho, Tripe, Bogan, Vadium, Paulo Dias, Sidinei, Mario Conceicao, Zeca, Gustavo di Dalva, Renato Rodrigues, Alexandre Guedes, Florisvaldo Foca.