Marcos Valle

Long held in high esteem in his native Brazil for his groundbreaking compositions throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Marcos Valle may be even better known for the work he’s done in bringing his global bossa sound to worldwide audiences, principally via his recordings for Far Out Records over the past decade-and-a-half. This collection draws together the best of the singer/musician’s output for the label, from the bristling samba-jazz of "Nova Visual,” a tight, evolving cut made big by forceful mid-tune guitar and sax solos, to the reinterpretation of his classic "Os Grilos.” Lyrics seem largely an afterthought in Valle’s productions, becoming downright simplistic and repetitive on tracks like the dance floor directed "Apaixonada Por Você.” But as the mellowed soul vibe of divergent tracks "Poweride” and "Nordeste” prove, Marcos’s worldly groove is the main ingredient, which has drawn so many international listeners to his accessible sound.