Audiopile Review: Active in the early days of the late ‘60s Brazilian bossa nova explosion, then eventually working with the likes of Jorge Ben, Gilberto Gil and Marco Valle, pianist & arranger Osmar Militio quietly issued Viagem in 1974, which arrived in the vibrant and exploratory world that came in the wake of the late ‘60s Tropicalia explosion. Militio tied in his first love of jazz with the psych-pop of Tropicalia, adding in a touch of the soft-rock sound emanating from the US. An uplifting and breezy affair, Militio’s sophisticated piano leads a swell of strings, low-key latin rhythms, warm vibraphone and irresistible female vocals that recall Rita Lee’s sunny stylings in Os Mutantes. Jazz-forward but steeped in the sound of Brazil’s recent past, this is perfect soundtracking for the incoming warmer months.

Bossa Nova jazz fusion masterpiece by the legendary pianist/arranger Osmar Milito. A key figure on the Bossa Nova and Brazilian jazz scene, Milito participated on plenty of sessions led by stars such as Nara Leão, Maria Bethânia, Vinicius de Mores, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben, Elis Regina, Sérgio Mendes, Chico Buarque and Marcos Valle, among many others.