Marcos Valle

To call Marcos Valle 'a legend' of Brazilian music is much more than
just easy press-release hype. As singer, writer, musician and record
producer, Marcos has played an integral role shaping the sound of the
country's music from the 'golden era' of the 60s and 70s, through to
the modern day. Alongside his brother, Paulo Sergio Valle, they have
penned a huge catalogue of classic songs, not just for themselves but
for other greats such as Elza Soares, Astrud Gilberto, Claudia to name
a few.
'Braziliance!' takes things back to the early heady days of Marcos'
career with the bright and optimistic sound of Rio's Bossa Nova scene.
It includes an instrumental version of 'Crickets Sing For Anamaria' or
'Os Grilos' in Portuguese, which would also be re-recorded with
vocals. Though only in his early twenties at the time, 'Braziliance!'
depicts very sophisticated production for a musician so young. Recorded
in 1966, produced by Louis Oliveira and Ray Gilberts with arrangements
by the very talented Emir Deodato, the album was released on Warner
Bros. Records. The artwork presents a very clean-cut, wholesome looking
Marcos but darker things were around the corner for Brazil. The
'Tropicalica' movement was on its way and about to shake thighs up both
musically and politically. Unlike some of his Bossa Nova
contemporaries, Marcos continued to stay relevant, surfing the changes
and adapting to the musical developments that culture and society
projected and needed, without comprising his art.