'SuperNovaSambaFunk' is the new album by a band that in Brazil needs no introduction: funk formation Banda Black Rio! Banda Black Rio was established in the early 1970s and these days a second generation of musicians has taken over from their founding fathers. The fact this band can count on a lot of acclaim in their own country is proven by the impressive list of guests (Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Elza Soares, Marcio Local...) willing to lend a hand on 'SuperNovaSambaFunk'. The funk of Banda Black Rio is reminiscent of the music of the English Brand New Heavies: funk with a jazzy vibe.
Of a very different order are the compilations by Nicola Conte; this Italian jazz musician has already released three volumes in his 'Viagem' series, always succeeding in finding the best and sometimes most obscure excerpts from bossa nova and samba jazz. The great comic book style sleeve designs were done by Giuseppe Palumbo.