After nearly five decades of partnership in music and life, Brazilian artists Joyce Moreno and Tutty Moreno are set to release their second collaborative album. The new record, titled 'Joyce & Tutty Moreno,' arrives on August 7, marking a significant milestone for the couple who have been together since 1977.
The album is the 27th release in the acclaimed series from the American record label Jazz Is Dead, founded by producer and arranger Adrian Younge. It follows the label's recent release from the duo Antônio Carlos & Jocafi, which came out in April. The project was produced, recorded, and mixed by Younge at his Linear Labs Studios in Los Angeles, California.
The couple's only previous album together was 'Samba-jazz & outras bossas,' released in 2007 when their musical and personal partnership had already reached 30 years. This new release continues their exploration of Brazilian rhythms, with a repertoire anchored in samba.
The tracklist features several compositions solely by Joyce Moreno, including the songs 'Janeiro,' 'Mandala,' and 'Uana Efé,' as well as the instrumental piece 'Fingers.' The album also includes two new co-writes between Joyce and Adrian Younge: 'Flores vermelhas' and 'Sorria de novo,' with music by Younge and lyrics by Joyce.
A standout piece on the record is 'Círculo vicioso,' composed by Adrian Younge using verses from a poem of the same name by the renowned Brazilian writer Machado de Assis. The poem, created around 1880, was published in 1901.
Musically, the album showcases Tutty Moreno's virtuosic drumming alongside Joyce's performance. The recording also features contributions from pianist Bryan Velasco, percussionist Gibi dos Santos, and Adrian Younge himself, who plays guitar, Hammond organ, vibraphone, and other instruments on the tracks.
Based on reporting from g1.