Some things are just too good to be true.  While finishing off the cataloging of recordings that ARC collected for Brazilian Music Day, in preparation for India Music Week, I came across this album by Egberto Gismonti.

It’s the perfect transition – the perfect bridge between the two cultures and the annual focuses here at the ARC.  Last year Brazil, this year India.  Força Lascada (EMI, Brazil, 064 422 940, 1984) offers a jazzy and dissonant use of a dilruba and the “sitara” – untuned, loung-ey and peculiar – as nearly all such cultural mashups are.

It’s the perfect addition to the collection we’re building of non-Indian musicians incorporating Asian Indian instruments into their music. Often it’s a straight ahead and flatly melodic use, like on a Beatles record.  But sometimes it’s an avant-garde mess bordering on genius.  As this is.  At least on two cuts.

We’ll have a full rundown and essay on more than 30 of these recordings ready for India Music Week in Oct.  Stay un-tuned!

AS YOU MAY KNOW our Swingin’ Summer Record + CD Sale is coming up – June 8 – 16.  So another benefit of re-Brazilin’ is the big pile of Brazilian/Brasilian LPs that we will have at our sale.  Things in near mint condition, like below @ below market prices…