FREE: Music CD Putumayo Presents: Brazilian Cafe

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Lapping waves of gentle percussion, fingerpicked nylon-string guitars, and laid-back, caressing vocals are the order of the day at this café. Another well-chosen track list from Putumayo is at the heart of this salute to 21st century Brazilian singer/songwriters. Second-generation bossa nova stars Ana Costa and Katia B. do their forebears proud on salty-sweet numbers that sound fresh while honoring the old guard. Other inviting tracks include Marcia Salomon's sultry "Quando o Carnaval Chegar" and Brazilian ex-pat Márcio Faraco's "Na Casa Do Seu Humberto," featuring a whispery vocal over a quietly urgent guitar part. Where the majority of songs have a folksy, rustic quality, Toco's "Otro Lugar" stands out as a polished gem with sparkling production and an ultra-smooth delivery that suggests cool caipirinhas sipped on white sand. Fans of samba and bossa nova will enjoy the selections, and new listeners will find this a handy introduction to the Brazilian music renaissance