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It's little secret that Joyce is one of my favorite musicians. Her music is strong and even empowering and at the same time can be gentle and sweet as well. She's released albums for over 40 years now and what we have here is another re-issue of two of her all-time classic albums, "Feminina" and "Agua E Luz". Admittedly the copy of this that I have is the Odeon (Japan) reissue from circa 1992. But this and the Odeon release have the same tracks (at least from what I could see in research).

Diving into the music, the first half of the cd is from the "Feminina" lp. It contained some of Joyce's biggest hits, including the smash "Feminina" and "Clareana". Feminina, a sort of testament to women and Clareana was a ballad dedicated to her two daughters, including Clara Moreno. Other higlights included the instrumental "Aldeia De Ogum" along with "Banana", a song that shows her characteristic guitar play - a sound that can really only be referred to as "the Joyce sound".

You hear it again on Misteriosos and several other tracks from the Agua E Luz (Water and Light) album. Agua E Luz is one of my favorites of all of Joyce's works. She's got great guests and fantastic songs and ballads. This is the album with "Monsieur Binot", "Muito Prazer", "Moreno" - a beautiful song dedicated to husband Tutty Moreno with breezy guitar and smooth sax. I mentioned her trademark guitar play, and you can hear it again on a crazy bossa "Samba De Gago", or "Gag Samba", and again on the wonderful "Meio E Meio", a song where you can literally feel a slight tug-of war, even with the flute solo in the bridge. Another great song to me is the beautiful "Mais Uma Vez, Mais Uma Voz", and the cd ends beautifully with "Docura Forte/Aqua E Luz".

I seldom review Joyce's works since I'm a big fan, but did so here because this is one that is a critical piece to get if you too are a fan. While this album will be very difficult to find, you can also look for the Odeon version. A great deal of the linear notes are in kanji (I don't imagine that to be the case with this version) but it is also translated into Portuguese and English. Also, note that a great deal of the songs - at least 75% of them - are available on "Essential" best-of releases by Mr. Bongo and I believe EMI. Hopefully there will be a re-release of her first and second albums, and maybe "Tardes Cariocas" as well.

This 2-in-1 CD reissue features music from two albums by Brazilian jazz singer-guitarist, "Femininha" (1980) and "Agua E Luz" (1981). Both albums were originally out on the EMI label. (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To Brazilian Music)