Tutty Moreno - Forças d'Alma
Tutty is one of my biggest influences (and according to Edu, his single biggest). His touch and feel are magical, and he plays samba in a unique fashion that is like absolutely no one else. He's most often heard on the albums of his wife, Joyce, but here Edu chose Tutty's solo album from 1998. Edu goes on to say that he had the opportunity to buy Tutty's kit. I believe the one on the cover of this album may have been the one that Edu now owns and can be seen playing in certain YouTube videos.
Raul de Souza - A Vontade Mesmo
Egberto Gismonti - Em Família
Most of my experience with Egberto Gismonti has been through his records on the ECM label. But this is an early 80s EMI record that I hadn't heard before. It features Nenê on drums, who, according to Edu, "pioneered this approach to bring the percussion rhythms to the drum set"
Edison Machado - É samba novo
This is an album that is very near and dear to me. When I was first having my mind blown by Brazilian music, composer Flavio Chamis was helping me with my graduate research and introduced me to this album and explained it's importance. It remains one of my personal favorites. Edu says:
The origin of Samba Jazz! This is a photography of new style coming up from the clubs in Rio at Beco das Garrafas. Edison playing is high energy. The sidemen are amazing too: Paulo Moura is playing saxophone, Raul de Souza is there too!
Rosa Passos - Pano para manga
Rosa Passos is such a treasure of this music. She personifies that Brazilian feel that is incredibly intense and driving while somehow very light and relaxed at the same time. This album features Erivelton Silva on drums.
Elis Regina and Tom Jobim - Elis e Tom
Don't need to say much about this one. You've heard me talk about it before. The collaboration of one of Brazil's finest composers with one of it's finest singers, and behind the scenes is one of it's finest drummers, Paulo Braga.
Celso de Almeida Trio - Sambalanço
This is a relatively new release of a drummer Celso de Almeida, who, right there with Edu, is one of the finest samba drummers alive today.