In 1996, a number of American and world artists including Maxwell, George Michael, Sting, Caetano Veloso and Marisa Monte collaborated in the creation of “Red Hot and Rio,” a landmark compilation that turned out to be one of the most successful albums of the series of recordings that helps raise funds for AIDS awareness and research. The album celebrated bossa-nova era composers like Edu Lobo, Antonio Carlos Jobim and their contemporaries with new renditions of their classic tunes plus a handful of new songs.
A decade and a half later, the Red Hot Organization called on some of today’s top independent singers and songwriters for “Red Hot and Rio II,” which follows up on that first disc by looking at the music from yet another generation of Brazilian music—the highly political, short-lived but very influential Tropicalismo, a movement that responded both to the psychedelics in the Northern Hemisphere and the crushing military dictatorship that took over the country in 1964.
Some of Brazil’s up-and-coming artists also make their mark on the disc. Curumin carries the classic “Ela” with an electronic-infused arrangement. Sao Paulo’s Ceu shares “It’s a Long Way” with producer Apollo Nove and N.A.S.A., while percussionist Carlinhos Brown revives Gil’s “Soy Loco Por Ti America” with Argentina’s Los Van Van. Veloso, Marisa Monte, David Byrne, Money Mark and Bebel Gilberto, who all contributed to the first disc, make return appearances on the new album. (Ernest Barteldes)
Various Artists “Red Hot & Rio 2” eOne Entertainment
Cool Aid: A Review of Situation Chicago 2 The album does an outstanding job of bringing home the staggering sonic and stylistic range we deny ourselves when we return too often to the same genre well.
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