Weber Iago "Os Filhos Do Canto: Children Of The Wind" (Adventure Music, 2004)
Highbrow "smooth jazz," led by pianist/composer Weber Iago, played in small trio and quartet arrangements. The music is a mix of gypsy/Roma melancholy and more standard jazz themes, with a dash of Brazilianness in there as well... This album springs from work originally commissioned for flautist Keith Underwood, but Iago leads on several songs, and in general I prefer his solo passages. His piano work has a lush, classical-romantic core to it that adds resonance and depth... The flute work tends to meander and sound noodly (which may just be because I don't like the timbre of the instrument...) At any rate, while this isn't really my kind of music, I recognize that this disc is a cut above, and a bit weightier than the smooth jazz norm... Worth checking out, if you like the soft stuff...
Weber Iago & Ron Kaplan "Saloon: The Ron Kaplan/Weber Iago Album" (Kapland Records, 2005)
Weber Iago & Jovino Santos Neto "Live At Caramoor" (Adventure Music, 2008)
(Produced by Jim Luce & Richard Zirinsky, Jr)
Brazilian pianists Jovino Santos Neto and Weber Iago combine their talents for these crisp live recordings, both as solo performers and together, with accompaniment by saxophonist Joe Lovano. They cover the work of Braz-jazz touchstones such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal and Pixinguinha, as well as some of their own compositions.. What marks this disc, though, is its departure from the bedrock conventions of Brazilian bossa nova-ism; this is much more of a classical-meets-avant jazz recording, arch and erudite, with less appeal to the smooth-jazz set, and more to fans of Pascoal and the more challenging brand of Brazilian jazz. Worth checking out if you're into "serious" jazz.
Weber Iago & Hristo Vitchev "The Secrets Of An Angel" (2009)
Weber Iago & Colin Farish "Two Hearts/Four Hands" (Adventure Music, 2010)
Weber Iago "Nehmat" (Mogno Music, 2010)
Weber Iago & Hristo Vitchev "Heartmony" (First Orbit Sounds, 2012)
Ile Axe "Calypso Samb' - Percussions Bresiliennes" (Playa Sound, 1990)
This disc opens with a sizzling Afro-Brazilian percussion number, simply called "Batucada," then slides into an interesting mix of Brazilian and Caribbean music, including several tracks with steel pan drums and voudou-style chanting. Some songs, like their theme, "Ile Axe," featuring some saxophone and jazzy reed work that's downright freaky. This album's an interesting experiment, and even if sometimes I wish it were "more Brazilian," it's still pretty groovy.
Impacto Cinco "Lagrimas Azuis" (CBS, 1975) (LP)
Groovy, low-key psychedelic/sunshine pop and boogie-rock; some of it's clunky, some of it's sweet (like the perky, poppy "Viver Triste") and even instrumental fusion flights like "Lagrimas Azuis" are noteworthy. If this was an American band, it'd probably be no big whoop, but given the context of the mid-1970s Brazilian pop scene (which was dominated by the then-ascendant post-tropiclia MPB-ers and the drippy, post-jovem guarda "brega" pop artists), it's an interesting anomaly. This was apparently the band's last record; I don't have any info on their earlier work.
Os Incriveis - see artist discography
Inimigos Do Rei "Inimigos Do Rei" (Sony-Epic, 1989)
Inimigos Do Rei "Amanha Da Rainha" (Sony-CBS, 1990)
Inocentes - see artist discography
Jacy Inspiracao "Jacy Inspiracao" (Copacabana, 1974) (LP)
Instituto "Colecao Nacional" (YBrasil, 2002)
(Produced by Rica Amabis & Instituto)
A mellow, downtempo mix of electronica, rap and dub from a loose musical confederation led by Rica Amabis, with contributions by a horde of Brazilian hipsters, including Otto, Fred Zero Quatro and a slew of other, less well-known artists. The jungle/house beats don't do much for me, but I'm a grouchy old man. Worth checking out if you're in search of modern Brazilian stuff that's off the beaten track, pretty dynamic and stylistically diverse, even if it ain't quite my cup of tea.
Os Intocaveis "Os Intocaveis" (Audio Fidelity, 1964)
Breezy, slightly ditzy, lightweight bossa nova instrumentals from an anonymous but rigorously competent studio ensemble. I suppose if you dig lounge music, this might be one to look for... A little too plinky-plinky and twee for me. (Note: the band's name means "The Untouchables," auf Portuguese...)
The Ipanema Pop Orchestra "Bossa Nova Meets USA" (London Records, 1965) (LP)
Pop-orchestral cover tunes by several veterans of the 1950's "para dancar" dance-band scene, a studio group including Cipo, K-Ximbinho, Mierelles and others, playing North American standards by Henry Mancini, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer, et. al.
Os Ipanemas "Os Ipanemas" (CBS, 1975) (LP)
Another re-release from the UK "acid-jazz" scene -- this is a jazz band, sort of along the lines of Sergio Mendes' early bossa nova work, with Astor Silva on trombone, Wilson das Neves playing drums, along with Rubens Bassini on percussion, and others. I wasn't terribly taken with this disc, but it also isn't offensive in any way.
Os Ipanemas "Que Beleza" (Far Out Records, 2010)
Ira! - see artist discography
George Israel "4 Letras: 13 Parcerias Com Cazuza" (Universal, 2004)
The first solo album by George Israel of the pop band, Kid Abelha... This is a tribute to seminal '80s rocker Cazuza.
George Israel "Distorcoes Do Meu Jardim" (Universal, 2009)
Ivan & Pricila "Hortela" (Cue, 1985)
Ivinho "Ao Vivo: Montreux Jazz Festival" (Warner, 1978)
