BLACK RIO Brazil Soul Power 1971-1980 (Strut) Rating: NNNN Rating: NNNN
The active eruption of James Brown-inspired funky Brazilian soul that occurred during the 70s has never been adequately examined. The haphazard Samba Soul collection barely scratched the surface of the exciting movement, but Black Rio — compiled by sussed club selector DJ Cliffy, who makes a living uncovering this music and supplying it to dealers — digs much deeper. It begins to contextualize the groove-dominated jams of artists such as Gerson King, Dom Salvador, Copa 7, Manito, União Black, Toni Tornado and Miguel de Deus, whose accomplishments have long been overlooked. But you don’t need to be a musicologist to appreciate the primal pounding beauty of Grupo Arembepe’s Iaia, Trio Mocoto’s Nago or Orquestra e Coro’s Kriola. Just make sure you got some floor space to get busy.
