Marcia Taborda "Choros Da Paulinho Da Viola" (Acari, 2001)

Taiguara - see artist discography

Fernanda Takai "Onde Brilhem Os Olhos Seus" (Deckdisc, 2008)
A solo set by singer Fernanda Takai of the alt-rock band, Pato Fu...

Fernanda Takai "Luz Negra - Ao Vivo" (Deckdisc, 2009)

Fernanda Takai "Luz Negra - Ao Vivo" (Optical Media, 2009) (DVD)

Tamba Trio - see artist discography

Sebastiao Tapajos - see artist discography

Paulinho Tapajos - see artist discography

Os Tapes "Canto Da Gente" (Discos Marcos Pereira, 1975) (LP)
A musically sparse, somewhat spacey acoustic folk outing, with an Andean folkloric tint. A little too serious for me, and kind of static, musically. Not unlike various albums of traditional music from Peru, Chile, et. al., though with a sorrowful, solemn feel that makes it extra-special sluggish. The band was apparently named for the small coastal town of Tapes, near Porto Alegre.

Marcus Tardelli "Unha & Carne: Marcus Tardelli Interpreta Guinga" (Biscoito Fino, 2006)

Benjamin Taubkin "Trio +1" (Adventure Music, 2009)
(Produced by Benjamin Taubkin)
Fairly straightforward jazz, led by Brazilian pianist Benjamin Taubkin, along with Zeca Assumpcao (bass), Sergio Reze (drums and gongs) and their "plus one," trumpet player Joatan Nascimento, who contributes one of the album's original compositions. There are Brazilian elements, in some songs more than others, but mostly I'd say this is a contemplative, mainstream jazz album, with a penchant for longer tracks (three that clock in at 6-plus minutes and two that are twice that length...) It's okay, not really my bag, but mellow and good for the genre, without getting saccharine or gooey. Worth a spin if you like serious contemporary jazz that's a little on the sweet side.

Benjamin Taubkin "MPBaby: Chico Buarque" (MCD, 2008)

Benjamin Taubkin "Piano Master Series, Volume One" (Adventure Music, 2010)
(Produced by Jim Luce & Richard Zirinsky, Jr.)
A nice, relaxed set of classically-tinged jazz piano solos... This was nice to hear, since I've mostly heard Taubkin record with accompaniment, and hearing his piano work without all the ornamentation of the modern soft-jazz scene is nice; it's just keyboards and no modern instruments or fusion-y flights to distract from the music. Worth checking out.

Daniel Taubkin "BRAzSIL" (Blue Jackel Records, 1998)

Daniel Taubkin & Uandi Uandi "A Picture Of Your Life" (Blue Jackel Records, 2002)

Daniel Taubkin "Uma Beleza Estranha" (Tratore, 2004)

Daniel Taubkin "Cinema Na Rua" (Tratore, 2005)

Daniel Taubkin "Sertao Negro" (Tratore, 2009)

T. B. Samba "T. B. Samba" (Discos Som, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Paulo Rocco, Talmo Scaranari & Decio Fonsi)
Soulful, uncomplicated, poppy samba of the partido alto/pagode style, though perhaps not as dynamic or striking as some of the top bands of the time. It's nice, though -- very easy on the ears and packed with material that seems to be original to this album. I've seen this listed as a "samba-funk" album, but I don't think that's accurate -- they have an electric bass guitar, but otherwise this is straight-up samba, with swaying cavaquinho riffs and a relaxed vocal chorus. The song "Cai Neblina" adds a Wanderley-esque organ, for a slightly kitschier sound, though it's still a nice song. By the way, anyone know what "T. B." stood for?

Teca & Ricardo "Musique Et Chants Du Bresil 1" (Moshe-Niam Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by J. P. Chambard)

Teca & Ricardo "Caminho Das Aguas" (Moshe-Niam Records, 1975) (LP)

Teca & Ricardo "Cade O Povo" (RCA/ARC, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Claude Delcloo)
The duo of Teca Calazan and Ricardo Vilas recorded this album in France, with Nana Vasconcelos backing them on percussion throughout...

Teca & Ricardo "Desafio De Viola" (Sonopresse, 1978) (LP)
A collaboration with guitarist Leonardo Ribeiro, originally released in France. Ribeiro went on to record several albums of his own, including one under the band name Jardin Exotique, which also included contributions from Teca Calazan.

Teca & Ricardo "Povo Daqui" (EMI, 1980) (LP)

Teca & Ricardo "Eu Nao Sou Dois" (EMI, 1981) (LP)

Humberto Teixeira - see artist discography

Joel Teixeira - see artist discography

Renato Teixeira - see artist discography

Tellah "Continente Perdido" (Studio Cruzeiro Do Sul, 1980) (LP)
A Brazilian prog rock band that included multi-instrumentalists Marconi Barros, Claudio Felicio and Denis Torre. This appears to have been the band's only record, and I'm not sure if any of the musicians went on to work in other groups... Studio Cruzeiro Do Sul was an esoteric indie label that also released a long string of singles by Silvio Santos, as well as an album of candomble music by someone named Joao Carolino.

Claudia Telles - see artist discography

Mario Telles "Mario Telles" (CBS, 1962) (LP)
The brother of the great bossa diva Sylvia Telles, Mario was a well-regarded composer and a velvet-voiced crooner... This record includes the original version of his bossa nova classic, "Nana," as well as numerous others, mostly co-written by guitarist Baden Powell (who also performs on the album...) Although it's not a very dynamic record, and although his vocal style is, objectively speaking, a bit flat and static, I find it rather appealing. Telles' under-emotive style is very minimalist, and in some ways, both stylistically and in vocal tone, he reminds me of the American folk-blues musician Fred Neil. Certainly worth checking out, if you get a chance.

Sylvia Telles - see artist discography

Tema Tres "Madrugada 1:30" (Equipe, 1969) (LP)
Bleah. Bland, even insipid jazz/easy listening from pianist Gilson Peranzzetta, backed by a modest ensemble who do their best to buoy up his lifeless performances. This wobbles between syrupy Michel Legrand-ish muzak themes to more uptempo would-be jazz groovers, evoking the likes of Vince Guaraldi or the Young Holt Trio, but falling well short of the mark in every instance. I can forgive a lot in Brazilian music, but I took an active dislike to this one, and found it hard to force myself to make it through the whole album. Most instructive are his covers of well-known themes such as "Walk On By" or "The Fool On The Hill," where he simply fails to tap into the melody and harmonic strengths of the originals -- Peranzzetta is a very rhythmic player, and often picks out the melody's in a clunky manner that sometimes sounds like a child picking out a theme note-by-note... This may be a conscious choice on his part, some sort of minimalist approach like that of Dick Farney, but again, in Peranzzetta's hands it simply sounds clumsy and unskillful. At the very least, not worth your time.

Tempo Trio "Tempo Trio" (Odeon, 1965) (LP)
A short-lived jazz trio, featuring bassist Paulo Horta, drummer Pascoal Meirelles, and pianist Helvius Vilela...

Tenorio, Jr. "Embalo" (RGE, 1964) (LP)
Most of the early Brazilian jazz album I've heard don't do much for me... Groups like the Tamba Trio and Zimbo Trio seemed as incapable of "getting" the groove of American jazz as the Yankees were of "getting" the subtlety of bossa nova... This album is a standout, though. Light bop, with a fairly gritty feel, and more than a hint of Thelonious Monk's melodic style. And, what goes 'round comes 'round -- one of the standout tracks is Bud Shank's "Sambinha", originally recorded on his Brasamba album. (Tenorio had previously backed Shank up on a tour through South America...) Players include Milton Banana (percussion) and both Paulo Moura and J. T. Meirelles on saxophones, with pianist Francisco Tenorio Cerqueira, Jr.

O Terco - see artist discography

Teroca "Com Todo Respeito" (Por Do Som, 2001)
A co-founder of the Clube do Samba de Araraquara, singer-composer Marcelo Longo Vidal (aka Teroca) takes up the torch of sweet roots-samba in the style of Paulinho da Viola, Clara Nunes, and Martinho da Vila... If you get a chance, check it out!

Teroca "Elos Da Samba" (Tratore, 2006)
(Produced by Tae Rolfson & Teroca)
A beautiful set of old-school acoustic samba, with numerous old-timers joining in to craft a sweet, delicate album of original material, all composed and sung by Teroca himself. There are numerous guest vocalists, most of them pretty obscure, although sambista Wilson Moreira and singer Fabiana Cozza may be familiar names... This is a really lovely record: fans of Paulinho da Viola and Clara Nunes should love this one. I did.

Renato Terra "Renato Terra" (Polydor, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Pedro da Luz & Joao Moreira)

Renato Terra "Renato Terra" (Philips, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Ricardo Cantaluppi)

Renato Terra "Nova Luz" (Fontana Records, 1983) (LP)

Renato Terra "Baby, Baby" (RCA Victor, 1986) (LP)

Renato Terra "Renato Terra" (Warner-Brasil, 1994) (LP)

Renato Terra "Renato Terra" (Continental Records, 1997) (LP)

Terra Samba - see artist discography

Terreno Baldio "Terreno Baldio" (Pirata, 1975) (LP)
An extraordinary Brazilian prog record from Terreno Baldio -- Portuguese for "vacant lot"-- a band that was a major player in Brazil's hippie-era udigrudi underground scene. The group was originally made up of bassist Ascencao, drummer Joaquim, João Carlos Kurk (vocal, flute and percussion), Ronaldo Lazzarini (keyboards), and Mozart de Mello on guitars... The lineup changed a little on their next album, after which they disbanded in 1978. Anyway, this is a strong and durable album which deftly combines various musical elements of the mid-1970s: there's the overall grandiosity of classic prog acts such as Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gentle Giant, et. al. along with hints of more mainstream jazz-fusion, and guitar-god instrumental music: Mozart de Mello's plucky guitar riffs constantly reminded me of Jeff Beck... There are also kooky, half-shouted vocals that brought Arthur Brown and Kingdom Come to mind. The record has a herky-jerky, helter-skelter, stop-and-start quality that may make it feel uncohesive at times, but I was surprised at how well the album held my attention (me not being a big prog fan and all...) I'm pretty sure that fans of the genre will want to check this out. [Note: apparently this entire album was re-recorded in 1993, with English-language lyrics in place of the original Portuguese. Sounds kind goofy, but who knows. That might be worth a spin as well.]

Terreno Baldio "Alem Das Lendas Brasileiras" (Continental, 1977) (LP)
Another strong offering, although this time around the rigid prog parameters of their debut album loosen up to include more fluid-sounding fusion-jazz riffs, particularly on the keyboards and guitar: on the album's longest track, "Lobisomem," the band gets into a funky groove and jams together on the break. Added to the elements of the first album are more overtly "Brazilian" touches, including regional sounds that are more like Quinteto Violado, as well as a poppier approach to their rock roots that bring them more in line with '70s Brazilian rockers such as Rita Lee or Ney Matogrosso, irritating vocals and all. I wouldn't say that this is a terribly "accessible" album -- most people, myself included, will find it pretty irritating. But for proglodytes, another historical bonanza, packed with choppsy guitars and grandiose lyricism. Worth checking out, if that's your bag!

Terreno Baldio "Empty Lot" (1993)
An English-language re-recording of their first album...

Tete & O Lirio Selvagem "Tete E O Lirio Selvagem" (Phillips, 1978) (LP)
A challenging, sometimes beguiling album featuring the uniquely irritating vocals of Ms. Tete Espindola, who went on to a successful solo career. Of course. I suppose her high-pitched trilling could be compared to Kate Bush, and sometimes the music tilts into a similarly artsy-fartsy, baroque vein, paired with regional Brazilian music, similar to that of Quinteto Violado. I suppose there's stuff here that the folk-freak revivalists could get into, but this is a pretty hard sell for most of us, and not particularly easy on the ears. I really kinda hate her voice, as well as the preciousness of her phrasing. But maybe that's just me. It's a weird record, for sure, and sometimes that makes stuff worth checking out. The backing band, Lirio Selvagem, was a rechristened version of a band called LuzAzul, featuring several of her brothers -- the label had her ditch them for her later records, which had a clearer pop direction.

Thaide & DJ Hum "Humildade E Coragem Sao Nossas Armas Para Lutar" (TNT, 1992)

Thaide & DJ Hum "Preste Atencao" (Eldorado, 1996)

Thaide & DJ Hum "Assim Caminha A Humanidade..." (Trama, 2000)

Thaide "Apenas" (Tratore, 2007)

Thaide & DJ Hum "O Comeco 87/91" (Trama, 1999)
A best-of set, covering 1987-1991...

Thelma (Soares) - see artist discography

Tigres De Bengala "Tigres De Bengala" (CBS-Epic, 1993)
(Produced by Mayrton Bahia)
Sort of an MPB art-rock/new wave/jazz all-star set, with synth-popper Ritchie joined by Dadi and Mu (from the band A Cor Do Som), Vinicius Cantuaria, and Claudio Zoli, from the band Brylho.

Tihuana "Ilegal" (Virgin-Brasil, 2000)
One of Brazil's few indie-ish modern rock bands, these guys mix ska-ish reggae, light funk ala Fishbone or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with a dash of Beastie-style, metallic punk-funk and some radio-friendly pop, all songs with appropriately perky, anthemic choruses. The album starts out with great promise, but the band seems to run out of ideas pretty quickly, and the riffs get stale. After about five or six songs, I was kinda bored, although there are several songs that are kinda catchy.

Tihuana "A Vida Nos Ensina" (Virgin-Brasil, 2002)

Tihuana "Aqui Ou Em Qualquer Lugar" (Sony-Brasil, 2002)
The punky bits are harder and more hardcore, the rapping is more strident, the reggae is all but gone, and the pop-rock sounds more artfully placed. At best, they still sound Beastie Boys-ish, although I suppose Linkin Park might be a better comparison... Still, for what it is -- slick, aggro, Portuguese-language hard rock/hip-hop -- this is pretty good. Production-wise, and in terms of the carefully modulated ragefulness, this stuff holds its own next to the American noise it seeks to emulate. It's a more grating sound than their earlier albums, but also far more skillful and engaging. Worth checking out, if you go for that sort of thing.

Tihuana "Tihuana" (EMI, 2003)

Tihuana "Um Dia De Cada Vez" (Universal, 2003)

Timbalada - see artist discography

Agnaldo Timoteo "Surge Um Astro" (Odeon, 196-?) (LP)

Agnaldo Timoteo "O Astro Do Sucesso" (Odeon, 196-?) (LP)

Agnaldo Timoteo "Obrigado Querida" (Odeon, 1967) (LP)
(Produced by Milton Miranda & Lyrio Panicali)
Super-corny radio-singer vocals, with some overlap into the jovem guarda scene, though that may be mostly theoretical. Includes a poppy cover of the American country hit, "Green, Green Grass of Home," rather literally translated by Geraldo Figuelredo as "Os Verdes Campos Da Minha Terra." Overall, this is pretty snoozy, though a fine example of just how boring the Brazilian studio system could be, if left to its own devices. Features backing and arrangements by the orchestras of Nelsinho and Peruzzi.

Thereza Tinoco "Sempre Me Acontece" (RGE, 1979) (LP)

Os Tincoas "Os Tincoas" (Odeon, 1973) (LP)
A funky modern samba band from Bahia, with spiritual roots in Afro-Brazilian candomble... And a band very ripe for digital reissue! Keep hope alive.

Os Tincoas "O Africanto Dos Tincoas" (RCA, 1975) (LP)

Os Tincoas "Os Tincoas" (RCA Victor, 1975) (LP)

Os Tincoas "Dadinho E Mateus" (CID, 1986) (LP)

Luiz Tirelli & Banda Qualquer Coisa "Qualquer Coisa" (Amigo E Pra Essas Coisas, 1982) (LP)

Adil Tiscatti "Bale De Cobra" (Velas, 1996)

Adil Tiscatti "Leao Da Lua" (Velas, 2000)

Wagner Tiso - see artist discography

Tita "L'Incomparable Tita: Revelation Bresil De L'Anne" (Barclay Records, 1969) (LP)
With Trio Camara...

Titas - see artist discography

Titulares Do Ritmo "Samba Pra Todo Mundo" (Beverly Records, 1974) (LP)

Jose Tobias "Estranha Magia" (Todamerica, 1960) (LP)

Jose Tobias "Poema Triste" (Audio Fidelity, 1965) (LP)

Jose Tobias "Jose Tobias" (Som Maior, 1965) (LP)

Tobruk "Ad Lib" (1972) (LP)
A far-flung, energetic acid-rock outing... I'm entirely not sure what to make of this one... It's is a rich, goofy relic of the hippie era, with some deliciously dramatic psychedelia, thumpy boogie rock/R&B and hilariously spaced-out lyrics. Lots of good, wicked, fuzzed-out electric guitars as well, totally in keeping with similar music in the USA and UK: indeed, this band is supposedly made of several North American expatriates who went to Brazil and recorded their album there (although I thought I detected a Brazilian accent on the lyrics in the first song... projection, perhaps?) so I'm not sure where (or if) it belongs in the Brazilian pop pantheon... But here it is, anyway. The title track is a twelve-minute long epic with a strong debt to the Doors... All in all, an impressive, wacked-out record by a capable psych-rock band -- worth tracking down, if you're feeling all "Nuggets"-y.

Ary Toledo "No Fino Da Bossa" (RGE-Fermata, 1965) (LP)

Ary Toledo "Ao Vivo" (Premier Records, 1969) (LP)
An engaging live set from folk singer/satirist Ary Toledo, playing solo acoustic at the Teatro Record, in Sao Paulo. In keeping with his North American folkie brethren, Toledo peppers in a lot of humorous patter, notably on the lengthy, mostly spoken, opening track, "Descobrimento Do Brasil," a comedy bit which showcases a number of jokes co-written with his longtime collaborator, Chico de Assis, who is credited as composer or co-composer on several other tracks as well. In addition to his own material and several adaptations of Brazilian folk tunes, Toledo also covers some contemporary MPB and bossa nova songs, including relatively obscure compositions by Joao Do Valle ("P'eba Na Pimenta"), Gilberto Gil ("Testamento Do Padre Cicero") and Carlos Lyra ("Pau De Arara"), all of which meet with lively approval from his hometown audience, which also seemed to get a kick out of his teasing parodies of a highly-exaggerated, hyper-nasal regional accent. In comparison to the explosive, revolutionary contemporary Brazilian music of this era, this seems fairly static (though not quite "conservative," given that Toledo himself had been briefly arrested by the military junta that took power in 1964...) Also, Toledo considered himself a humorist first, and secondly as a musical dabbler... But the crowd loved him, as this concert recording amply demonstrates.

Ary Toledo "Ary Toledo" (Fermata, 1970) (LP)

Ary Toledo "Ary Toledo" (Beverly Records, 1978) (LP)

Ary Toledo "Antologia Do Sexo" (Copacabana, 1979) (LP)

Ary Toledo "Pois E" (Copacabana, 1982) (LP)

Ary Toledo "Na Base Do Riso Explícito" (Copacabana, 1985) (LP)

Ary Toledo "A Todo Vapor" (2008)

Rosana Toledo "...E A Vida Continua" (RGE, 1962) (LP)
Vocalist Rosana Toledo, with musical backing from guitarist Baden Powell, and other unidentified instrumentalists...

Rosana Toledo "A Voz Do Amor" (RGE, 1962)

Rosana Toledo "Sorriso E Lagrima" (RCA Victor, 19--?) (LP)

Ife Tolentino "Brazil In Black And White: A Portrait Of Chico Buarque" (Moophonix, 2005)

Tom & Dito "Se Mandar M'Imbora Eu Fico" (Som Livre, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Antonio Carlos & Jocafi)
Bright, cheerful, occasionally over-the-top sugary sunshine-pop MPB. This is sappy, but pleasant samba-pop from a Bahian duo who also had success as songwriters. Here they are solidly in the style of a similar duo, Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (who also acted as producers for this album...) Worth checking out.

Tom & Dito "Reverterio" (Continental, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Alberto Arantes & Raymundo Bittencourt)
I'm not sure exactly why, but I found this album to be a chore to listen to, actively irritating, in some odd way. On the face of it, there shouldn't be much difference between this and their previous album (reviewed above): it's another soft-samba/pop outing, with a mellow mix of acoustic and lightly-jazzy MPB stylings, in the same mode as Joao Bosco or Antonio Carlos & Jocafi... But for some reason this production feels forced and false, a bit stiff and joyless. Not sure that I could put my finger on it, but other than two or three songs, everything on here just made me feel a little edgy and dissatisfied. Of all the tracks, "Insenso" and the Gilberto Gil-ish "Catibiriba" were my favorites. The passionate, torturous opening track, "Cretino," was just plain grating, as was the later "Agua Viva."

Tony & Frankye "Tony & Frankye" (CBS, 1971) (LP)
A pretty groovy soul-funk album, featuring the short-lived duo of Tony Bizarro and Fortunato Arduini, who lay down as solid a set of '70s soul as any Brazilian act of the era. The first track kicks off with a direct lift of Sly Stone's "Thank You" (and I mean that as a compliment!) while other songs harken back to '60s artists such as Arthur Conley or Sam & Dave. A dash of psychedelic rock guitar comes in, with a Guess Who-ish hard rock feel. Unfortunately, the second half of the album succumbs to the tortured warbling vocal style favored by "Black Rio" artists such as Tim Maia and Cassiano -- I dunno why Brazilian soul singers liked that style, but they did: it doesn't age well. Overall, though, this is pretty cool, especially by Brazilian standards. Definitely an album worth tracking down! (Note: Obviously Bizarro went on to record solo stuff after this, but I'm not sure what became of Arduini - anyone have any info on him?)

Toque De Prima "Se Tem Que Ser Sera" (Velas, 2000)
(Produced by Paulinho Albuquerque)
A heartily welcomed throwback to the soulful acoustic samba style of the '70s, recorded by a crack band out of the Rio samba scene. These fellas keep great company, as seen in guest appearances by sambista Zeca Pagodinho, jazz singer Joyce and forro accordionist Dominguinhos. Only lightly dipping into glossier material, this is pretty much a solid, upbeat, beautifully paced album, well worth checking out.

Toque De Prima "Daqui, Dali D De La" (Rob Digital, 2005)

Toquinho - see artist discography

Toni Tornado "B. R. 3" (Odeon, 1971) (LP)
Apparently this fellow was a television actor who briefly made the move into a music career, as a pioneer of the Black Rio soul scene. His debut on the Odeon label is nearly indistinguishable from similar hard-edged funk by Tim Maia, an uneasy, back-and-forth mix between the machine-gun yelps and growls of James Brown and the softer crooning of the Philly crowd. Still, it's way better than wimpy material by Cassiano and his ilk. A slew of well-known jazz and soul musicians worked with Tornado on this album (each apparently recording with him on separate sessions), including Paulo Moura, Dom Salvador and Waltel Branco. Worth checking out if you're tracking down these old soul albums.

Toni Tornado "Toni Tornado" (Odeon, 1972) (LP)
Tornado's follow-up album is fairly dreadful, though, full of spasmodic, hyperactive arrangements which at their best sound like the disco-y work of Banda Black Rio, and at their worst are simply loud and unfocussed. Retro-funk fans will probably dig this album, but it lacks polish and doesn't really hold up.

Raul Torres & Serrinha "Suspira Meu Bem" (Revivendo, 2004)

Raul Torres "Ta Vendo Muie" (Revivendo, 2004)

Raul Torres "...E Seus Parceiros" (Revivendo, 2004)

Trem Da Alegria "Serie Focus" (Universal, 1999)
Children's music, Brazilian-style... This multi-platinum group recorded several albums, the first three of which featured future pop star Patricia Marx, who was with the group from 1984-88. This is a best-of collection; not sure if Marx is included on any of these tracks.

Tribalistas "Tribalistas" (EMI-Phonomotor/Blue Note, 2002)
A lovely little album! The band's name and all-star cast are an apparent tribute to the Veloso-Gil-Bethania-Costa mid-1970s supergroup, Doce Barbaros (The Sweet Barbarians), but in this case the musicians, neo-tropicalistas Arnaldo Antunes, Carlinhos Brown and Marisa Monte, go for tender restraint, rather than wild excess. It's a remarkably gentle, dreamy album, with an interesting blend of voices and styles. If I had to characterize it, I'd say this sounds more like an Arnaldo Antunes album than anything else, with its off-kilter sensibility and unhurried pace. Monte, who put this album out on her own Phonomotor label, plays the central vocal part, though, with both Antunes and Brown complimenting her in unusual harmony parts. Carlinhos seems a little lost in the mix, at least his former trademark Afro-Brazilian percussion is hardly as prominent as on other albums. All in all, this is a very pleasant, inventive and multi-textured record, well worth checking out!

Tribo Massahi "Estrelando Embaixador" (Riversong, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Joao Negrao)
Two long, wacked-out, acid-laced jam sessions, each clocking in at roughly fourteen minutes... There's a continuous conga drum, a spacey female (or possibly teenaged) chorus, led, at times, by male vocals, and a noodly flute floating round in there as well. It's strangely appealing, in a difficult-listening kind of way, although completely incoherent and formless. A groovy relic of days gone by!

tRIO "After The Carnaval" (Stunt Records, 2009)
A jazzy set by a threesome going by the name of tRIO, pianist Thomas Clausen, flautist Carlos Malta and singer/guitarist Celia Malheiros... Elegant and sugary, but not saccharine or false. Certainly worth a spin if you like the mellower stuff...

Trio 202 "Ao Vivo: New York And Sao Paulo" (Azul Music, 2008)
A modern jazz/choro trio featuring Nelson Ayres, Toninho Ferragutti and Ulisses Rocha...

Trio 3D "Tema 3D" (RCA, 1964) (LP)
Trio 3D, featuring teenaged pianist Antonio Adolfo and Argentinian bassist Cacho, apparently backed bossa nova songwriter Carlos Lyra on some of his early songs, and worked the Sao Paulo club circuit in the early 1960s. Although the reissue liner notes proclaim this to be one of the most important albums to come out on RCA-Brasil, it's a bit difficult to see why that would be so. Other than the swank, Dick Farney-esque vocals by bassist Cacho, there isn't much to distinguish this group from the whole host of similar-minded would-be jazzcats that swarmed about in the wake of the bossa nova revolution. Like Luiz Eca, the Zimbo Trio and Milton Banana, Trio 3D rushed the tempo and were weak on harmonic and rhythmic subtlety. This album is kind of cute in a retro-lounge-y kinda way, but it didn't do much for me. It's worth noting, though, that percussionist Dom Um Romao performs on about half these tracks, and you can tell when it's him playing, as the level of technical competence jumps dramatically. (See also: Conjunto 3D)

Trio 3D "Convida" (RCA, 1965) (LP)
(Produced by Roberto Jorge)
Another swinging set from Antonio Adolfo and his jazzcat pals... This time around they are joined by guest performers including Eumir Deodato (who provides arrangements on one track), Raul De Souza, trombonist Maciel, and saxophonists J. T. Meirelles and Paulo Moura. This set seems a little less rushed and a bit more lyrical than the first; better rounded, overall. Their next album, recorded as Conjunto 3D, would be more pop-oriented, going for a Sergio Mendes-like crossover sound. This one's worth checking out, though.

Trio Bavario "BavaRio" (Trikont Records, 1989) (LP)

Trio Calafrio "Trio Calafrio" (Carioca Discos, 2004)
A nice, mellow, old-school pagode samba set, featuring Barbeirinho do Jacarezinho, Luiz Grande and Marcos Diniz, who is the son of velha guarda samba legend Monarco. A bit modern and glossy in places, but mostly solid and enjoyable.

Trio De Ouro "Trio De Ouro" (Revivendo)
One of the many many vocal groups of the "radio singer" era, the Trio went through three different lineups, all led by composer Herivelto Martins, as well as his wife, singer Dalva De Oliveira. Martins was one of the great WWII-era pop composers, with many of his works associated with the Estacio samba school. This disc collects twenty-two tracks, spanning from 1941-1957, and includes versions of several of his best-known songs, such as "Negro Telefone" and "Ave-Maria No Morro," a controversial song which conflated Catholicism and contemporary politics. These tunes mostly have fairly standard arrangements, although on a few songs the female part drifts into a high-pitched, Yma Sumac-y trill which you may find a bit irritating. Mostly though, this is nice old stuff.

Trio Eletrico de Dodo & Osmar - see artist discography

Trio Esperanca - see artist discography

Trio Indaia "Sarava Umbanda E Paz E Amor" (Tropicana) (LP)

Trio Indaia "Noite Linda Para Amar" (Discos Ytamaraty, 1974) (LP)

Trio Irakitan - see artist discography

Trio Madeira Brasil "Trio Madeira Brasil" (TMB, 1998)
(Produced by Trio Madeira Brasil & Mauricio Carrilho)
A lovely and pleasantly varied choro album, featuring plenty of classics by Jacob Do Bandolim and Pixinguinha, along with several very creative instrumental versions of MPB tunes by Edu Lobo, Chico Buarque and Egberto Gismonti... even a mandolin-ized rendition of Scott Joplin's "The Easy Winners." This talented trio sidesteps the monochromatic pacing of many choro groups by varying the tempo, melodic attack and dynamics of each song. This album is continually surprising and compelling... well worth tracking down!

Trio Madeira Brasil/Various Artists "... E Convidados -- Ao Vivo" (MCD, 2004)

Trio Madeira Brasil & Guilherme De Brito "A Flor E O Espinho" (Lua Discos, 2007)

Trio Maraya "Trio Maraya" (Som Maior, 1966) (LP)
Modest bossa-jazz backing with a sweet-sounding (but kind of square) male vocal trio, working through a set of then-current standards. The vocal arrangements are (thankfully!) not as innovative (or as irritating) as that of groups such as MPB-4 or Quarteto Em Cy -- more in Four Freshmen/Chad Mitchell Trio kinda mode -- which makes them easier to listen to, but also sort of limited and maybe a bit kitschy. The group included percussionist Hilton Acioli, guitarist Marconi Campos da Silva, and Behring de Campos Leiros on bass, with Acioli also credited as the trio's vocal arranger. This is okay, though comparatively staid. Included in the trio was composer Hilton Accioli, who had several songs recorded by Geraldo Vandre and, decades later, wrote a campaign song for presidential candidate Lula da Silva. Also, they backed samba singer Jair Rodrigues on some of his early records. Thus endeth this history lesson.

Trio Mocoto - see artist discography

Trio Nago "Prece Ao Vento" (Revivendo, 2004)

Trio Nago "Trio Nago" (Vintage Music, 2011)
A classic vocal group along the same lines as Trio Irakitan or Os Ipanemas. Formed in 1950, this trio from Fortaleza spotlighted tight, flawless harmonies and compact arrangements, with more of a folkie-gaucho vibe, and little connection to the samba-cancao tradition. The North American equivalent might be something like Terry Gilkyson's folk-cowboy tunes of the same era. A little slick and staid, perhaps, but nice stuff nonetheless. The original lineup included guitarists Mário Alves and Evaldo Gouveia, along with percussionist Epaminondas de Sousa, who originally performed on the regionally-based "Radio Club de Ceara" under the name Trío de Iracema. (Note: this CD edition is a straight reissue of their original 1957 LP, though, sadly, the the package contains no liner note information.)

Trio Nago "Chansons Du Folklore Bresilien" (Vintage Music, 2011)
A four-song EP from 1957, with the songs "Carro De Boi" and "Solidao," as well as reprises of "Ave Maria No Morro" and "Mulher Rendeira," which were also on the LP above.

Trio Parada Dura "Raizes Sertanejas, v.1" (EMI, 1998)

Trio Parada Dura "Raizes Sertanejas, v.2" (EMI, 1998)

Trio Plaza "Uma Noite No Plaza" (Radio Records, 1955) (LP)
An early recording -- apparently the first ever? -- to feature Ed Lincoln, who went on to become a popular bandleader in the 1960s, mostly known as a keyboardist, though here he plays bass. The trio also included pianist Luiz Eca, and Paulo Ney on guitar.

Trio Surdina - see artist discography

Trio Ternura "Trio Ternura" (CBS) (1971-?) (LP)
(Produced by Raul Seixas)
A cool psychedelic soul-pop album, produced under the auspices of crazed, ne'er-do-well avant-rocker, Raul Seixas, who was just about ready to get kicked off the CBS label himself for greenlighting his own solo album without the label head's approval. Enough about him, though... This album has some great '60s pop twists, LA-style orchestral stuff, cannily blended with driving funk, similar to early Sly & The Family Stone. They later released an album under the name of Quinteto Ternura. Retro fans pay heed: this is an album worth tracking down!

Trio Virgulino "Forro De Todos Os Tempos" (??)

Trovadores Urbanos "Copacabana" (Dabliu, 2002)
Soft, nostalgic group vocals which hearken back to the pre-bossa "radio singers" era, covering songs by Dorival Caymmi, Joao De Barro, Lupicinio Rodrigues, et. al. The lite jazz arrangements and super-smooth, old-fashioned four-part vocals are a little too gooey for me, but if you like the Quarteto Em Cy or MPB4, this modern quartet might catch your fancy...

Tuca - see artist discography

Tunai "Todos Os Tons" (Polygram, 1981) (LP)

Tunai "Olhos Do Coracao" (Polygram, 1983) (LP)

Tunai "Em Cartaz" (Ariola Records, 1984) (LP)

Tunai "Tunai" (Polygram, 1985) (LP)

Tunai "Sorrou Pra Mim" (Eldorado, 1988) (LP)

Tunai "Dom" (Maracujazz, 1993)

Tunai "Certas Cancoes: Acustico E Ao Vive" (Jam Music, 2000)

Tunai "Serie Sem Limite" (Universal, 2002)

Tunai "Danca Das Cardeiras" (Independente, 2004)

Tunai "Eternamente..." (MZA, 2011)

Turma Da Bossa "Sambas De Bossa Nova" (Musidisc, 1959)
A mix of lively samba-inflected gafieira and kitschier, tamer "para dancar" dance music. The percussion features lots of genuine samba musicianship and instruments -- cuica, surdo, agogo -- and it's mixed in more prominently than is often the case with similar records of this era; meanwhile the jazzy guitar is pretty fun... What sometimes kills the mood, though, is the plunky piano -- it's just a little too brusque and devil-may-care for my tastes. There's also some relatively restrained saxophone work that fits in well... Really, it's just the piano that stands out like a sore thumb; otherwise, cool record. Anyone know who was in this group?

Turma Da Bossa "Sambas De Brasilia" (Musidisc)

A Turma Do Embalo "O Rei Da Pilantragem: A Turma Do Embalo Interpreta Imperial" (RCA, 1968) (LP)
(Produced by Nonato Buzar)
This experimental pop album featured songs by Carlos Imperial -- a key figure in the early '60s ie ie ie rock scene, with backing by pianist Cesar Mariano Camargo, and vocals by a gal named Regininha. Pop-soul star Wilson Simonal also appears on this album; Nonato Buzar also produced singles featuring Regininha, though this may have been the only full album she appeared on...

Turma Da Gafieira "Turma Da Gafieira" (Musidisc, 1957-?) (LP)
Sometimes blaring, sometimes sluggish, big band-y gafieira music, though performed by a decidedly all-star cast... The album starts out too stilted and sleepy for me, but gets more upbeat and bouncy as it goes along. What's most remarkable, though, is the lineup: according to sources online, this band featured flautist Altamiro Carrilho, Raul de Souza on trombone, Edison Machado on drums, and Sivuca on accordion, among others. I didn't care much for the music, but the historical value is immense! (And check out their other album, which featured guitarist Baden Powell, playing electric, early in his career...!)

Turma Da Gafieira "Samba Em Hi-Fi" (Musidisc, 1957-?)
Again, an all-star, heavy-hitter lineup, with flautist Altamiro Carrilho, Raul de Souza on trombone, Edison Machado on drums, guitarist Baden Powell (playing electric, early in his career), and Sivuca on accordion, among others. I didn't care much for the music, but the historical value is immense!

Turma Da Gafieira "The Music Of Brazil: Recordings 1957" (Black Round Records, 2009)
This digital-only release (which may or may not exist in a year's time -- oh, how I hate "the cloud"!) is a straight reissue of the 10" albums above. If you want to check this stuff out, then I guess this is the way to go.

A Turma Dos Cangaceiros "Asa Branca" (RCA Camden, 1973) (LP)
Easy listening-ish takes on accordion-led sertanejo classics such as "Asa Branca," "Juazeiro," "Meu Limao, Meu Limoeiro" and "Mulher Rendeira," which over the years were incorporated into the MPB scene's hipster mainstream, perhaps most notably by superstar Gilberto Gil, who devoted a fairly large chunk of his career championing Brazil's regional music. These tracks are a little prefab and goofy, but not vapid or overly kitschy...The musicians are not identified, but they were clearly very talented, despite the budget-label packaging and semi-muzak feel; the group took its name from the 1953 hit film, O Cangaceiro ("The Bandit") a ground-breaking "western" which starred actress-singer Vanja Orico, and included her version of "Mulher Rendeira." This appears to be the only album recorded under this band name, but there may be others... It's a little corny, but still draws you in.

Lucia Turnbull "Aroma" (EMI-Odeon, 1980) (LP)

Tutti Frutti - see artist discography

Julia Tygel "Entremeados" (Tratore, 2011)

Brazilian Music - Letter "U"

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