Rio's Moacyr Luz is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and guitarist of exceptional subtlety and depth, and a champion of traditional acoustic samba. Luz has collaborated with numerous artists, notably Jards Macale, and his songs have been covered widely, although his own albums may be the best way to discover his work... Let's take a look...
Moacyr Luz "1988" (Dabliu Records, 1988)
Moacyr Luz "Vitoria Da Ilusao" (Caju Records, 1995)
Moacyr Luz "Mandingueiro" (Dabliu Records, 1996)
Sweet, rhythmically rich acoustic sambas. Similarities to early Joao Bosco should come as little surprise, since most of this album was co-written along with Bosco's old partner, Aldir Blanc. Nice, mellow stuff... recommended!
Moacyr Luz "Na Galeria" (Lua Music, 2001)
(Produced by Moacyr Luz)
Another mellow, understated acoustic gem... Much of this album is a bit more contemplative and subdued compared to his other records (and occasionally a little mushy...) but it's rich, lovely musicmaking nonetheless. Definitely worth a spin!
Moacyr Luz "A Seducao Carioca Do Poeta Brasileiro" (Lua Music, 2004)
With members of the samba/choro band, Agua de Moringa...
Moacyr Luz "Samba Da Cidade" (Lua Music, 2005)
(Produced by Moacyr Luz)
A lovely acoustic samba album, with delicate cavaquinho (by Mauro Diniz) and ornate guitar throughout... Most of the songs are Luz originals, with many co-written with Aldir Blanc, as well as some written along with samba luminaries such as Wilson Das Neves, Martinho Da Vila, Luiz Carlos Da Vida, and Paulo Cesar Pinheiro. The music sounds mostly the same from track to track, but it's all quite lovely, especially the cavaquino work from Mauro Diniz. Gentle, lulling, and definitely recommended.
Moacyr Luz "Violao & Voz" (Deckdisc, 2005)
Moacyr Luz & Armando Marcal "Sem Compromisso" (Deckdisc, 2007)
Moacyr Luz/Various Artists "SAMBA: FRAN'S CAFE" (Lua Music, 2007)
Moacyr Luz, Jards Macale, Ernesto Pires and others contribute to this fine selection of modern samba interpretations...
Moacyr Luz "Batucando" (Biscoito Fino, 2009)
Moacyr Luz/Various Artists "Piraja Esquina Carioca: A Cozinha Do Samba" (Biscoito Fino, 2009)
A live, pure samba set with a real heavyweight cast: Moacyr Luz, along with Aldir Blanc, Martinho Da Vila, Monarco, and Tia Surica, of the Velha Guarda da Portela.
Moacyr Luz "Ao Vivo No Renascena Clube" (Lua Music, 2013)
Moacyr Luz "10 Anos & Outros Sambas" (Ritmiza Producoes , 2015)
Moacyr Luz/Various Artists "Dobrando A Carioca Ao Vivo" (Biscoito Fino, 2016)
A live concert with Guinga, Jards Macale and Ze Renato...
Moacyr Luz &Samba Do Trabalhador "Ao Vivo No Bar Piraja" (Universal Music, 2017)
Moacyr Luz & Carlos Di Jaguarao "Cartas Africas" (Ritmiza Records, 2017)
Moacyr Luz "Natureza E Fe" (Biscoito Fino, 2018)
(Produced by Fabiano Franca & Jeronimo Orselli)
Moacyr Luz "Fazendo Samba" (Biscoito Fino, 2019)
With the group Samba do Trabalhador, along with guests such as Joao Bosco, Leci Brandao and Roberto Sa...
Pierre Aderne & Moacyr Luz "Mapa Dos Rios" (Mestre Sala, 2023)
A collaboration between Moacyr Luz and French-born, Rio-raised Pierre Aderne, who had previously recorded a couple of solo albums, as well as part of a band called Doces Cariocas, along with Domenico Lancellotti, of +2 collective fame. This album was released in Portugal, where Aderne had been living for over a decade, after emigrating to Lisbon.
