Customer Reviews

Coisas

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Moacir Santos is a Brazilian composer, arranger and saxophonist from the first team of Brazilian Jazz. He's one of those artists who are underrated by the big audiences but widely known by those who appreciate inspiration, beauty, intelligence when applicable to music composition and arrangement.

He was born in 1926 and he's recorded 'Coisas' in 1965. This is his master album, a memorable album with the unique Santos' way of doing the thing, a reference album to Brazilian music. His way of doing it includes an intricate shape of samba, an uncommon way of dividing that is unique in his compositions, a kind of registered mark which identifies Santos.

'Coisas' shows the cream of the cream of the intrumental Bossa Nova Jazz from the 60s with the best musicians in Rio de Janeiro from those golden times. It is a must-have CD for a serious Bossa Jazz collection. Let me also tell you this is a classic which was a very rare and desired album for so many years until it was reissued in CD last year in Brazil.

Let me explain that 'coisa' means `thing'. So Mr. Santos has chosen to name each track with the same title 'Coisa' - number 1, 2, 3 ... 10. One of those 'things' became a Brazilian standard when it gained lyrics and a new title 'Nana'. It was a smash hit in Brazil as recorded by Brazilian Crooner Wilson Simonal.

In the late 60s, Mr. Santos went to live in the USA and he became an auxiliary writer for some famous American arranger like Billy Byers was to Quincy Jones. He's also recorded three albums as a leader in the USA for Blue Note Records which are anxiously desired for reissue.

there aren't any other albums that sound like this. there might be albums that swing like this one, but not with these weird voicings and instrumentation. there are probably albums with similar instrumentation, but they don't swing like this. this ain't no lounge! unless your lounge is on "the frigid tundra of lambeau" (see below).

at times it's like a really funky nfl films soundtrack (honey, the oakland raiders have shown up in their velvet robes!). but other times it's like driving through a rainy night in the city. you just take in the sounds, look at the lights, and smile. it's alright.