After being shelved for 45 years, Far Out Recordings has unearthed the previously unreleased 1977 album Natureza from legendary Brazilian singer and songwriter Joyce Moreno. This follows-up the London-based label’s Record Store Day twelve-inch exclusive of the 11-minute version of the all-time classic “Feminina”.

Produced, arranged, and conducted by the great Claus Ogerman, who has worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Billie Holiday, the incredible seven-track album features notable Brazilian icon Mauricio Maestro (who wrote/co-wrote four of the songs), percussionists Nana Vasconcelos and Tutty Moreno, along with jazz legends Joe Farrell on flute, saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Buster Williams, vibraphonist Mike Manieri and a full orchestra. The sessions were recorded at Columbia Studios during a period of time that Joyce was living in New York.

Brazilian drummer João Palma, who used to play with Jobim helped connect Joyce and Ogerman. The thought at the time this album was being recorded, that this would be Joyce’s big international breakthrough release. Unfortunately after failing to find a label to release the album, possibly to the rise of disco and new wave, the project was ultimately shelved.

After returning to Brazil in the eighties, Joyce did have a handful of hits in her home country, including “Clareana,” and “Feminina” (which originally came out in 1980 as a much shorter 3:48 version). Joyce’s music also began to find its way to the UK, Europe and Japan dancefloors, with tracks like “Feminina” and “Aldeia de Ogum” becoming massive hits on the underground jazz-dance scenes of the mid to late-eighties and early-nineties.

A turning point for the the Natureza sessions came when the original 11-minute version of “Feminina” first heard on a Brazilian jazz compilation in 1999, which began to create buzz about the lost recording. Now thanks to Far Out Recordings and label boss Joe Davis, and their quest to dig up this brilliant session, the full-length album has finally seen the light of day. Due to significant deterioration of the master-tapes, the best audio source for these tracks was an unmixed tape copy Joyce had kept of the recordings. Far Out has done a remarkable job in restoring this music and now preserving this important chapter in Brazilian music and Joyce’s musical journey.

Even though Joyce Moreno might not have received the same initial praise and recognition as some of her peers during the sixties and seventies, like Jobim, João Gilberto and Sergio Mendes, time has proven that the Rio de Janeiro-born singer, songwriter and guitarist is one the greatest Brazilian artists of our time, and who’s music continues to be timeless.

Digital version available now, vinyl LP out October 30th

Joyce Moreno — ‘Natureza’
(Far Out Recordings)

1. Feminina
2. Moreno
3. Coração Sonhador
4. Descompassadamente
5. Mistérios
6. Ciclo Da Vida
7. Pega Leve

BUY RECORD

• Brazilian