JON HENDRICKS - SALUD! JOAO GILBERTO (REPRISE 1963) Jap mastering cardboard sleeve

Jon Hendricks idolizes Joao Gilberto (he has spoken fondly of their first meeting where they scatted to each other before ever speaking a word), and he wasted little time putting together a tribute album at the height of the first bossa nova wave. It ought to come as no surprise that he would display total sympathy with the bossa nova manner here, singing softly and smoothly -- and Hendricks' English wordplay is quite faithful to the original tunes and meanings of the Portuguese lyrics, in contrast to his usual whimsical work with jazz improvisations. Hendricks is particularly winning, and irresistibly swinging on the rare occasions ("Voce E Eu," "Samba Da Minha Terra") when he scats to the Brazilian rhythm; he should have done more of that here. But then, his versions of Gilberto's repertoire are carefully based on Gilberto's early EMI/Odeon recordings (now available on The Legendary Joao Gilberto); even Antonio Carlos Jobim's string and wind charts for the originals are preserved by adapter Johnny Mandel. Alas, the only Hendricks lyric that has become a universal standard is Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" ("No More Blues"). As Hendricks' only album-length encounter with bossa nova, Salud! Joao Gilberto Originator of the Bossa Nova is essential.[allmusic]
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KAKO & HIS ORCHESTRA - SOCK IT TO ME LATINO (MUSICOR 1968) Jap mastering cardboard sleeve

A go-go dancer on the cover, and some very tasty grooves on the record -- hard and heavy Latin work from the mighty Kako, cut with a sound that's a lot more classic than you might guess from the image on the front! The style here has a slight nod to the boogaloo generation, but also really revels in older Afro-Cuban modes -- sounding especially strong on the descarga tip, as Kako and combo jam nicely with a really frenetic sort of approach. Menique sings vocals on some numbers, and other members of the group include Ricardo Ray and Victor Paz. Titles include "Kako's Boogaloo", "Guajira En Carnaval", "Bomba Sabrosa", "Descarga Panama", and "Negro Soy".
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MENIQUE:..."In 1968, Kako came to play at Los Carnavales de Panama, and you know, he was left without a singer. So he asked the musicians in Panama if they knew a singer that could learn his music fast. He was told there were two singers, Beto Duvois and Meñique. He wanted both of us, but I was the lucky one to come to New York because I was able to get my visa, and Beto could not come. After a year, Kako became my brother-in-law when I married one of his sisters.
The recording of the long player Sock It To Me, Latino! was a great experience. I have great memories of everyone that participated in Kako y su Combo.
Some of the musicians that participated in Sock It To Me, Latino! were Chamaco Ramírez, Frankie Figueroa, Manny Román, Víctor Paz, Cheo Feliciano and Raymond Maldonado. All the musicians were in good humour and I blended into the group, even though I was only with them for about three months. Kako was a great guy; he took me in with his family when I came from Panama."
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CARLOS LYRA - SARAVA! (RCA VICTOR 1970) Jap mastering cardboard sleeve

(Text from the back cover):
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"Gravado no México em 1970, lançado agora pela primeira vez no Brasil, “Saravá” inclui algumas das mais belas canções de Carlos Lyra, como “Também Quem Mandou”, “Feio Não É Bonito” e “O Bem do Amor”, somadas a temas de maior swing como “Até Parece” e “Sambalanço”. Além de inspiradas recriações de “Tristeza”, clássico de Haroldo Lobo & Niltinho, e do “Samba da Benção”, de Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes, em uma versão em castelhano preparada pelo próprio Lyra."
Arnaldo DeSouteiro
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A nice mellow, old-school bossa album, recorded in Mexico, where Lyra and other Brazilian luminaries were in cultural exile. This dips a bit into iffy pop territory, but mostly it's exactly the sort of gentle gem that fans of lounge, bossa and jazz are looking for all across the world. Recommended!
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