Brazilian Beats Brooklyn

Being that Sean Marquand and Greg Caz have been spinning Brazilian records at the Black Betty club in Brooklyn since 2001, and are well-respected in the field, it makes sense that the album they compiled and released with Mr. Bongo Records, Brazilian Beats Brooklyn (also the name of their weekly show) has a pretty fantastic selection of good, fun music that most people in the U.S. have perhaps never heard of before. Of course, artists like Tim Maia, Rita Lee, Joao Bosco, and even ones like Erasmo Carlos, Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti, Silvio Cesar, and Trio Esperança will probably be familiar to fans of MPB and Brazilian pop, but others, while equally talented (Miguel DeDeus, Os Novos Crioulos, and Noreil Vilela), haven't received the same amount of name recognition this side of the Equator. The music on Brazilian Beats Brooklyn spans from the fresh sounds of '60s MPB and funk to the electronica-influenced pop of the '80s and '90s. But all of what's here is excellent and makes for a great compilation; it's good for someone looking to explore Brazilian music for the first time (though there are other collections that act as better introductions), but it's even better for those want to add more obscure tracks to their collections and learn about new artists but can't make it out to Brooklyn for the party. ~ Marisa Brown