Claudia "Claudia" (RGE, 1967)
(Produced by Manoel Barenbein)
(Arrangements by Francisco Moraes)
The debut album from the Brazilian singer known as Claudia, who later found fame as the lead actor in a South American production of the musical "Evita. Here; she is just eighteen years old and the first thing you'll notice here is the youthfulness and pure joy Claudia's voice. This is very much a recording of a young girl singing, but rather than peg her as a "jovem guarda" teenie-bopper, RGE tried for a classy sound and matched her up with an old-school orchestral pop/big band group. She's backed by pianist Luiz Loy and his quintet, augmented by a generous slathering of string arrangements and orchestrations typical of the Brazilian studios throughout the '60s. I didn't like record this at first -- her voice sounded thin and slightly at odds with the robust, sometimes corny orchestrations. But listening to it again, it grew on me. There are some uptempo numbers, such as the swinging "Nao Se Aprende Na Escola," that jump out at you, as well as contemporary material by newcomers such as Chico Buarque and Gilberto Gil, but the tempo on these tunes is generally pretty slow, and perhaps inaccessible to modern listeners more attuned to the tropicalia and bossa vibe of the time. (There's also a nimble acoustic guitarist adding bossa riffs on most songs, but sadly they aren't identified in the liner notes... Anyway, there's a whiff of bossa nova, but this also has a strong pre-bossa feel.) Worth checking out, though it may feel a little uneven.

Teresa Cristina "Teresa Cristina + Os Outros = Roberto Carlos" (Microservice, 2012)
Sublime samba revivalist Teresa Cristina pays homage to Brazilian rocker-turned-crooner Roberto Carlos... I haven't heard this one yet, but would love to check it out. When I do, I'll be sure to let you know...

Domenico "Cine Prive" (Plug Research, 2012)
(Produced by Domenico & Mario Caldato, Jr.)
A playful, ecstatic album from Brazilian pop experimentalist Domenico Lancelotti, perhaps best known as part of the "Plus 2" musical collective that also includes Moreno Veloso, Kassin, and a rotating cast younger, rock-oriented artists working in what could loosely be called indiepop or electro-pop. There's a giddiness to this record that's often irresistible, particularly on the opening tracks, which mix electronica, dub and rock in an easygoing, just-for-fun style. As on other +2 projects, there are a slew of familiar guest musicians -- Moreno, Kassin, guitarist Pedro Sa, Adriana Calcanhotto, and others whose names will doubtless become as familiar in years to come. Some like-minded North American artists also chime in, including Darin Gray and Glenn Kotche (cohorts of guitarist Jim O'Rourke) and keyboardist Money Mark (of the Beastie Boys orbit), as well as Mario Caldato, who mixed the album. On some tracks they get a bit indulgent, though fans of Lucas Santtana and other Brazilian electro-indie modernists will definitely want to check this out.

Du-Sems Ensemble "Traditional Turkish Sufi Music: The Sun Of Both Worlds" (ARC Music, 2013)
(Produced by Du-Sems Ensemble)
The Du-Sems Ensemble is a modern Turkish trio devoted to ancient and traditional music, with a special emphasis on the ways in which Turkey, as a crossroads for several civilizations, has absorbed countless cultural influences. This particular album explores Turkish Sufi music, and concentrates heavily on the kind of music heard in Sufi religious services -- a series of group chants that may be inaccessible to some outsiders, but which radiate undeniable power and intensity. It's not just a non-Western style, but also distinctive from other Sufi music you may have heard, with more of a liturgical feel and less of the swaying, dance-oriented melodic style heard in Arabic Sufism. It's an impressive folkloric outing, though you really have to be actively exploring this music to delve into this one: if you are serious about Sufi spirituality or history, this could be a very rewarding record.

Peter King "African Dialects" (Secret Stash, 1979/2013)
(Produced by Peter King)
Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Peter King was one of many talented African musicians who made the scene in Europe during the 1960s and '70s, recording several albums in London, where he worked with numerous reggae and jazz musicians while developing his own sleek blend of styles. The opening track of this 1979 album is the perfect distillation of several musical elements which, as the title implies, are all "dialects" of African roots: the song is a sensuous blend of West African highlife, funky contemporary jazz fusion and a subtle dash of reggae riddims. It's followed by the equally alluring "Happy Song," a light lovers reggae tune with curious hints of psychedelic folk; other tracks add touches of dub, disco and calypso... It's very much a record of its time and place, the era when reggae vied with punk as the cutting edge of British cool. This was the last record King recorded before returning to Nigeria and, while released in Africa, became a sort of "lost album" for many years: kudos to Secret Stash for finding it and bringing it back for modern listeners to hear. There are some real gems on here!

Maria Marquez "Tonada" (Adventure Music, 2013)
(Produced by Maria Marquez & John Santos)

Pazy And The Black Hippies "Wa Ho Ha" (Secret Stash, 1978/2012)
(Produced by M. Oki)
Electrified African reggae and rock-flavored highlife played at a manic, breakneck pace... This record, originally released in 1978, was the second album by Nigerian guitarist-bandleader Edire "Pazy" Etinagbedia who put a clear "American" stamp on his band's name and their sound. It's a little too hyperactive for me (I prefer more laid-back stuff) but it's certainly an impressive bit of crate-digging, uncovering yet another layer of rare, obscure, ecstatic African pop from the golden era of the '70s. Standout tracks include the disco-funk of "Papa's Black Dog" and the straight-up electric rock'n'roll of "Elizabeth," which is perhaps the least typical track on this collection.

Rubenstein Klezmer Project "Fiddler On The Road: Klezmer, Ladino And Balkan Songs" (Arc Music, 2013)
(Produced by Rubenstein Klezmer Project & Darko Kikas)
Israeli violinist Ya'akov Rubenstein leads a trio which explores a variety of Jewish musical traditions, ranging from standard Eastern European klezmer to the Ladino music of the Iberian peninsula and some of the Roma-influenced music of the Balkans. The presentation is straightforward and sleek, the music both lyrical and familiar, yet the ease and confidence with which the trio weaves it together makes this album an ideal introduction to the music, and a rich listening experience.

Jovino Santos Neto "Piano Masters Series, Volume 4" (Adventure Music, 2013)
(Produced by Jovino Santos Neto & Richard Zirinsky, Jr.)

Omar Sosa "Eggun: The Afri-Lectric Experience" (Ota Records, 2013)

Various Artists "LE POP, v.7" (Le Pop Musik, 2012)