This is not a soundtrack to Brazil's famous carnival. There are no festive drums or blaring whistles. This is the soundtrack for more intimate moments: hand percussion and chords from nylon-stringed guitars pulse in steady rhythm under vocals as gentle as a sigh. Bossa nova and samba cancao are the musical genres showcased by legends and newcomers alike on "Acoustic Brazil," which savors the softer side of Brazilian music.

Caetano Veloso, founding member of the tropicalismo movement which blended bossa nova, rock, psychedelica and protest music, is represented here with the jaunty "Cajuina." Monica Salmaso's "Moro Na Roca," an homage to an Afro-Brazilian singer, gives us a taste of why she was once voted "The Best Singer in Brazil." And Rita Ribeiro's reggae-influenced "Tem Quem Queira" is also a standout, on an album full of gems.