Batucada
Walter Wanderley
1967
Why This Album Matters
Batucada, released in 1967, is an album that personifies the vibrant and accessible style of Brazilian organist Walter Wanderley, consolidating his characteristic sound on the international scene. The record is a prime example of how Wanderley masterfully navigated between cool jazz and what would become known as easy listening, always with an unmistakably Brazilian flavour, rooted in batucada and bossa nova. His Hammond B3, or, as on this album, his organ and piano, set the tone for a sophisticated, yet inviting and melodic groove.
Context
At the time Batucada was recorded, Walter Wanderley was already a recognised figure in the music scene, especially after his success and collaborations with Astrud Gilberto, which helped spread bossa nova to a global audience. Brazil was experiencing a moment of cultural effervescence, and Brazilian music, in its various forms, was gaining international prominence. Wanderley, with his talent for instrumental jazz-samba, was one of the great ambassadors of this sound, taking the country's rhythm and melody to studios and stages in the United States and worldwide.
Recording
The production of Batucada was handled by Creed Taylor, a legendary figure in the recording industry, known for his work with various jazz and bossa nova artists for Verve Records and CTI Records. The album featured a team of prominent Brazilian musicians, including Jose Marino and Sebastian Neto on bass, Dom Um Romao and Paulinho on drums, and Marcos Valle on guitar, who also acted as mixer and arranger on several tracks. The presence of these instrumentalists, combined with the engineering direction of Val Valentin and recording engineers Lee Herschberg and Rudy Hill, ensured a clean and rich sound, typical of high-quality productions of the era.
Songs
The title track, "Batucada", which serves as a rhythmic introduction, exemplifies the percussive and fast-paced samba style that gives the album its name, permeating the album's sonic atmosphere. Although predominantly instrumental, the album features vocal contributions on some tracks, such as those by Claudio Miranda and Talya Ferro. Another highlight is the song "Os Grilos (The Crickets Sing for Anamaria)", which became one of the most recognised tracks from Wanderley's work, with its captivating melody and engaging arrangement that captures the essence of his sound. The album's compositions combine vibrant arrangements with the characteristic melodic lightness of bossa nova and the infectious energy of samba.
Legacy
Batucada is an album that, although it may not have been an immediate sales blockbuster, solidified Walter Wanderley's reputation as a prominent instrumentalist. Critics, such as John Bush of AllMusic, recognised Wanderley's ability to flirt with easy listening without losing the essence of cool jazz, making it a pleasant record for fans of his previous work with Astrud Gilberto. The posthumous recognition of the album's quality and timelessness came with the inclusion of the track "Os Grilos (The Crickets Sing for Anamaria)" in an episode of the acclaimed television series "Breaking Bad", introducing Wanderley's music to a new generation of listeners and reinforcing its lasting impact on pop culture and Brazilian instrumental music.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Creed Taylor
Claudio Miranda, Talya Ferro
José Marino, Sebastião Neto
Dom Um Romao, Paulinho Magalhães
Marcos Valle
Walter Wanderley
Lu Lu Ferreira
Val Valentin
Lee Herschberg, Rudy Hill
Marcos Valle, Walter Wanderley
Acy Lehman
Irv Elkin
Books
Analyses
Batucada – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Cliquemusic : Disco : BATUCADA
cliquemusic.com.br
Walter Wanderley (1967) 1967 Verve (USA) V6-8706 Faixas 1 One the south side of Chicago (Zeller) 2 O barquinho (Little boat) (Roberto Menescal, Ronaldo Bôscoli) 3 Batucada (The beat) (Paulo Sergio Valle, Marcos Valle) 4 It's easy to say goodbye (É facil dizer adeus) (Tito Madi)
Batucada by Walter Wanderley (1967) | Jazz Album | All About Jazz
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Listen to and explore Batucada by Walter Wanderley, released in 1967 on ugEXPLODE. Read reviews, track listings, and discover more jazz albums on All About Jazz.
Walter Wanderley - Batucada (12 tracks) +Album Reviews
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"Walter Wanderley was at his apex when this album was originally released in 1967, and we are so fortunate that these Japanese remastered issues are now available.
Discogs
Batucada – Discogs
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