One Track MInd: Brazilian Chill Sessions

Leave it to a small Indie label in Argentina to pull together a dozen of the best New Bossa songs – each featuring a different musician or group – from the four corners of the globe to produce one of the best genre collections we’ve heard in a long time, Brazilian Chill Sessions.

Now that the compilation craze has died down a bit, it’s clear to see that New Bossa has come of age: progressing from the smoky influence of Acid Jazz and the come-and-gone novelty of the Chill and Lounge scene to stake out its own piece of the Brazilian music landscape.

And while most of this music today comes to us from beyond Brazilian shores, it’s also true that it represents a wider, more coherent vision for Brazilian pop than is currently being shown ‘back home’. And that’s not to say these New Bossa tunes aren’t authentic – you’re as likely to hear the songs on this disc on the dance floors of the best late night clubs in Rio and São Paulo as you are on your friend’s phone.

You won’t find driving beats and pulsing rhythms here – The label’s blurb says that “this is music to relax to, to dream and paint the air with colors. Brazilian Chill Sessionsis an album where the beauty of the melody is felt at every moment. The effect produced by classics of Brazilian music combined with a chill-out mood is surprising. On this album we find well known Brazilian songs, (Garota de Ipanema, Corcovado, Samba De Uma Nota Só, Aquarela) composed by the heavyweights of this nation, such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes and Toquinho and brought to life anew.”

In cultural counterpoint this album offers up a nice assortment of originals, all of which are un-credited, which is a shame because while each of these can stand on its musical merit, several are worthy of greater attention. In fact, my only gripe with this album is the lack of liner note and personnel listings: Taking the scant information that is provided to Google yielded precious little to go on.

Ultimately, Brazilian Chill Sessions is a well ordered and entertainingly well-balanced album, showcasing new voices (including Moana, Ituana, Stereo Dub, Lila with Rhythmic Control and the sultry Karen Souza) at the forefront of a Brazilian music revolution – just as Sergio Mendes, Astrud and João Gilberto, Jobim, Roberto Menescal and Luis Eça did in their own generational 20’s and 30’s.

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Brazilian Chill Sessions

01. Águas de Março – Os Alquimistas (Unconscious Edit)
02. Garota de Ipanema (The Girl From Ipanema) – Ituana
03. Fotografia – Celso Mendes Feat. Lua (Diva Brazil Mix)
04. Invisiveis – Dual Sessions
05. Wave – Brazilian Jazz Cuts Vs. Style Project
06. Amanhà Talvez – Aural Feat. Ituana
07. Fixação – Sound Behaviour (Outro Lado Remix)
08. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars) – Karen Souza
09. Samba da Mussa – Latin Groove Connection (Samba Soul Remix)
10. Insensatez (How Insensitive) – Stereo Dub
11. Samba de Uma Nota Só – Urban Love Feat. Moana
12. Aquarela – Lila Feat. Rhyming Control (Brazilian Tradition Mix)