James' South American Music List, 2009

The influencial psychedelic Brazilian band from the Tropicalia movement in the late 1960’s had had quite a resurgence lately with everybodyfrom Beck to David Byrne claiming inspiration. Luaka Bop records has recently reissued a compilation of their work.

 

The warm, smooth, and plaintive voice of Afro-Peruvian Susana Baca takes you deep into the organic history and culture of Peru and South America.

 

Raunchy bad-boys from Argentina fuse rock, funk and hip-hop to create a distinctly Argentinian aggressive and irreverent sound.

 

The seductive sounds of Brazil’s Bebel Gilberto have been taking the new international electronica lounge scene by storm as of late.

 

Nothing gets the firey tribal rythyms of Salvador da Bahia moving more passionately than Carlinhos Brown. İf you want raw carnival street sounds of the modern Afro-Brazilian scene, Carlinhos is your man.

 

Caetano is a national institution in Brazil. He, along with Gilberto Gil, pushed Brazilian music beyond Bossa Nova and into the future. He has penned some of the most wonderful and popular Brazilian songs of the late 20th century.

 

The recent Minister of Culture for the Brazilian government has had one of the most successful and influential carreers in Brazilan history. He is still going strong and pushing the limits of what defines Brazilian music.

 

Currently, the most famous samba musician both in Brazil and around the world, Seu Jorge brings alive the deep Afro-Brazilian roots of samba with a warmth in his voice that transports you to the Rio de Janeiro of the mind.

 

His recent collaboration with the Black-Eyed Peas, fusing Brazilian jazz with hıp-hop, has put him right back on the top of the international charts after more than thirty years in the music business. Sergio stands for all things Brazilian in his music and does it all with a smile that loves that you love what he loves to do most.

 

Marcelo D2 has matured into a true artist using hip-hop as his palette. He mixes traditional samba beats and international cutting-edge hip-hop sounds that have made him the most popular rapper in Brazil of the 21st century.