Brazilian Music: Collections & Compilations

This is just a small selection to wet your appetite. All CDs donated to our site automatically become part of the Sheila Thomson Collection of Brazilian Culture at Florida International University in Miami. That's the main reason why we keep these pages on the site, since we don't update them as often as we used to.

Most of the original labels don't exist anymore and we can't promise that some other label has bought the rights to the music, but it's certainly worth it to look for these songs online.

You know one of the pleasures of life in Rio? Sitting at a café or boteco, yakking away with your best friend? Well, at least we can have the soundtrack now, thanks to Putumayo's latest release. And they even have a scrumptious pavé recipe inside that you can make and serve and pretend you're in Brazil!

"Acoustic Brazil" This collection of Brazilian songs by Putumayo features iconic figures like Chico Buarque and Caetano alongside a few of our favorite "deusas," (to stick with sacred metaphors) meaning Rita Ribeiro, Teresa Cristina, and classy, classy Mônica Salmaso. Bow, then run and get your copy...

"Brazilian Groove" Old classics and new hits by a younger generation to get you grooving to Brazilian sounds...this CD is from Putumayo...run to get your copy...ah, and put on your dance shoes! 

"1º comPasso Samba & Choro" on Biscoito Fino. First of a series of CDs recorded live at Paço Imperial museum in downtown Rio (man, what a setting for this kind of music!) Features Quarteto Maogani, Rabo de Lagartixa, the great Elton Medeiros, Cristina Buarque & Henrique Cazes, etc.

To see photos of this gorgeous museum, go to our Rio's Downtown Museums page.

From Universal Music Latino comes this compilation of great women sambistas, from Dona Ivone de Lara and Clementina de Jesus to lesser known (but equally phenomenal) Jovelina Pérola Negra and Leci Brandão.

"Le Choro Contemporain" on Frémeaux & Associés. Another brilliant choro compilation by the French label Frémeaux...

"Samba 1917-1947" on Frémeaux & Associés. Batuque, partido alto and samba-canção. Most of the really, really big names are here: Araci de Almeida, Orlando Silva, Almirante, Cyro Monteiro, Mario Reis, even Noel Rosa (singing "Com que Roupa").

"Choro 1906-1947" on Frémeaux & Associés. Music critic Ellen Collison recommended these two French compilations and I'm forever in her debt for it. The box set contains two CDs - 36 tracks in total -, copious notes (in French) and historic photos. The man responsible for this feat is a Brazilian music aficionado from Paris. I don't know how he pulled this off, but merci beaucoup, M. Lesage!!

"Brésil Choro-Samba-Frevo 1914-1945" on Frémeaux & Associés. Again, two CDs, fabulous book with 26 photos. Luperce Miranda, Pixinguinha and Os Oito Batutas, Silvio Caldas, Araci de Almeida, Sinhô, even Noel Rosa singing Conversa de Botequim!

See also: "Samba Brasil" on Verve Polygram, a compilation of great sambas.
"Nordeste Brasil" on Verve Polygram, a compilation of forró, baião and other styles from northeastern Brazil.
"Afro Brasil" on Verve Polygram, a compilation of Afro-Brazilian songs and rhythms.
"Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical" Compiled by David Byrne, on Fly/Sire.
"Brazil Classics 2: O Samba" Compiled by David Byrne, on Luaka bop/Sire.
"Brazil Classics 3: Forró, etc." Compiled by David Byrne, on Luaka bop/Warner.
"Brazil Samba Roots" on Rounder Records.
"Brazil: Forró, Music for Maids and Taxi Drivers" on Rounder Records.
"Visom Brazil - A Windham Hill Sampler" Super sampler of contemporary instrumental music in Brazil.

Brazilian CDs

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