If the samba and bossa nova are any guide, Brazil is a nation of lulling breezes and gracious cool in the subtropical heat. Brazilian Beat won't disappoint fans of the '60s era sounds that helped define the country's image. The rhythms are lively yet easy, the melodies colorful as a rainforest and the tone as sensuous as that tanned, lovely girl on the beach of Ipanema. The 11 artists represented on Brazilian Beat cover the spectrum from gentle soul to elegant suggestions of jazz and hip-hop, making the decades-old rhythms sound timeless.
