<P>180g LP w/ Download <P> <p> An artist as imaginative and unique as Ana Mazzotti doesnt come around often. Dubbed a super-musician by fellow Brazilian virtuoso Hermeto Pascoal, Mazzottis short but rich musical career culminated in just two studio albums: Ninguem Vai Me Segurar (1974), and Ana Mazzotti (1977). Outside circles of Brazilian funk aficionados, these two gems of spellbinding samba-jazz, lysergic funk and trippy bossa have remained relatively obscure. This was partly as a result of Mazzottis premature death (she lost her battle with cancer in her mid-thirties), but also due to financial restraints and the prejudice she faced as a female songwriter in a fundamentally sexist society. <P> <p>Born in Caixas, in Brazils Rio Grande do Sul municipality, Mazzotti began to play the accordion aged five, before moving with prodigious ease onto the piano. By the age of twelve she was already conducting her convent schools choir, and at twenty-one she led her citys premier chorus, the Coral Bento Goncalves. When rock and roll hit South America in the sixties, a young Mazzotti was one of the early adopters, fronting various guitar groups including an all female Beatles cover band, and an eclectic, eight-piece psychedelic group Desenvolvemento. Before moving to Sao Paulo to start her career proper, Mazzotti met drummer, producer and fellow music educator Romido Santos, who she would later marry. Romildo introduced Mazzotti to jazz, and music by the likes of Chick Corea and Hermeto Pascoal who she would later befriend and perform with. In 1974 Mazzotti recorded her first album Ninguem Vai Me Segurar (1974), enlisting the in-demand arrangement talents of Azymuths original keyboard maestro Jose Roberto Bertrami who co-wrote several of the tracks and plays organ, piano and synthesizers on the album. It also features Azymuths bassist Alex Malheiros and percussionist Ariovaldo Contestini, with Romildo Santos who produced the album on drums. Recorded in Estudio Haway around the same time Azymuth recorded their debut album there, its no wonder the samba jazz-funk pioneers distinctive aesthetic is present throughout, and Mazzottis sensational compositions are made even more beautiful for it.<P> <p>Kicking off with the swirling samba-jazz-dance masterpiece Agora Ou Nunca Mais, the album hosts several groove-heavy Brazilian cult-classics including Roda Mundo and Eu Sou Mais Eu. Deeper moments come in the form of the alluring future soul synth sounds on Bairro Negro and Sou, and Mazzottis tender, hallucinatory version of Feel Like Making Love (made famous by Roberta Flack) perfectly reflecting the idiosyncratic genius Mazzotti achieved with Bertramis visionary arrangements, and Romildos impeccable production approach.<p> <p>Far Out Recordings is proud to present the official reissue of this cult favourite Brazilian treasure. Remastered and pressed to 180g vinyl, Ninguem Vai Me Segurar (1974) and Ana Mazzotti (1977) will be available on vinyl LP, CD and digital. Credits: Arranged By Jos Roberto Bertrami Arranged By [Brass & Vocals] Eduardo Assad Synthesizers [Arp & Moog], Organ, Electric Piano [Fender], Mellotron, Clavinet Jos Roberto Bertrami Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Alex Malheiros Co-producer, Mixed By Ary Tell Drums Romildo T. Santos Engineer Orlando Costa Engineer, Mixed By Waldir L. Pinheiro Additional Keyboards Larcio De Freitas (tracks: 2, 7) Art Direction Pricles Gomide Percussion Ariovaldo Contesini Producer Romildo T. Santos A&R, Directed By Cayon Gadia <P>
