Friday in Brasil, three artists I need to know more about

1. Antonio Carlos JobimAlso known as Tom Jobim, he was the father of the modern bossa nova (with Joao Gilberto). Worked with everyone from Stan Getz and Herbie Hancock to Frank Sinatra. Amazing pianist. Stick with this at least until 1.20 - 1.40. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2d-GtJUO_w&w=700]

2. Arthur Verocai Hard to fund out much about him, but Verocai started out in the mid- to late-Sixties, using his musical direction to wriggle around the censorship laws. Lots of funk and soul in amongst the jazz - imagine this as sample - he doesn't mess around with his musicians or arrangements, all business making the party work. Amazing. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j535pdeL80A&w=700]

3. Jorge Ben Mas Que Nada was his first hit, more of a samba guy than anything else, cover's of his songs seem to have done better outside of Brasil than his own versions. Perhaps not surprising as they've been covered by Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, the Black Eye Peas and more. His song, Taj Mahal, is also legally recognised as the source of the melody for Rod Stewart's Do ya Think I'm Sexy (he sued him and won). [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDlVZNfxVtE&w=700]