A golden future lay ahead for Brazilian singer Joyce Moreno (as an artist usually operating under just her first name), when her talent as a teenager was noticed by
Antonio Carlos Jobim. While living in New York in 1977, her voice, songs and beautiful guitar playing also caught the eye of arranger Claus Ogerman, who worked with Jobim as well as
Billie Holiday and
Frank Sinatra, among others. They
… decided to work together and an ambitious production was launched, with such big jazz names as Michael Brecker (saxophone) and Joe Farrell (flute) as guests. The project had everything to make Joyce break through to a large audience, but unfortunately things turned out differently. She left for Brazil for the birth of her third child, her contact with Ogerman became increasingly difficult and in the meantime the Brazilian steadily died out, which soon made the project of no interest to major labels. That the recordings are still being released more than 45 years later, however, is entirely justified. The sound quality is not great throughout, but the songs and arrangements are of a very high standard and showcase the best that Brazilian jazz of that era had to offer. (JV)more
