May 30 2025
Remastered from the original tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl
| Release Date: | 121925 |
| Currently: | Out of stock... OR coming soon - Check That Release Date one line up! (MM/DD/YY) |
December 19th, 2025
Standard Black Vinyl Reissue
A Bossa Negra, originally released in 1960/1961, is widely considered one of Elza Soares' finest albums and a foundational work in Brazilian music. The record blends traditional samba and bossa nova with a raw, vital energy, featuring Elza's signature smoky and powerful "husky" voice that has often been compared to Louis Armstrong's.
The album is a testament to Elza Soares' resilience, recorded after she overcame immense personal hardship and rose from deep poverty in a Rio favela to the peak of the Brazilian music scene. Her vocal style was unique at the time; instead of the subdued, "whisper" style popular in bossa nova, Elza's singing was bold, brassy, and full of fire, utilizing innovative scatting techniques she developed organically.
A Bossa Negra showcases a type of samba rooted in the favelas, reclaiming the African origins of the sound. The arrangements by Astor Silva are lively and incorporate elements of jazz, creating a distinct, grooving sound. The album captures Elza's early power and unbridled expression, cementing her legacy as a pioneering Black female artist who fearlessly pushed the boundaries of Brazilian music.
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