Amanheceremos (Brazil, 1979)

Soul Jazz Records release Jaime Alem and Nair de Cândia’s Amanheceremos, a superb, rare and classic understated 1970s Brazilian gem of an album. This album was only ever very limited and hard-to-find on its initial private press release, only ever independently sold by the artists themselves in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1979.

This album is a mixture of the Brazilian 1970s countercultural folk / rock feel of Novos Baianos, Caetano Veloso, Ney Matogrosso and the post-bossa arrangements of Tom Jobim and Edu Lobo.

Jaime Alem’s vocals and guitar work is reminiscent of Nelson Angelo, Toquinho and other great MPB guitar / singers, while Nair De Cândia’s vocals bring to mind Joyce and Nara Leao. But it is Jaime Alem’s stunning and sophisticated musical arrangements that make this album extra special. Alem’s work is the equal of Arthur Verocai.

After this album, Alem became the arranger and musical director for Maria Bethania. His songs have been recorded by Maria Bethania, Elba Ramalho and many others. In 1996, Alem and Cândia were also part of The Friends from Rio project for Far Out Records in London, alongside Raul de Souza, Wanda Sah and others.

Born in 1952, Alem started as a professional musician at 16, together with a collective of band members that included Jota Morais, Jurim Moreira and others who were all from the state of São Paulo. With the addition of his wife Nair De Cândia, the group’s collective approach to music-making was in similar fashion to that of Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges’ ‘Clube da Esquina’ project, made in the bordering state of Minas Gerais.

This is the first ever reissue of this lost gem. The album features the classic track ‘Passará’, which first appeared on Soul Jazz Records’ ground-breaking Brazil 70: After Tropicalia collection, alongside Gilberto Gil, Erasmo Carlos, Gal Costa, Novos Baianos, Raul Seixas and other important 1970s Brazilian artists and groups.