Ella & The Bossa Beat: Amare

Need an escape from the gloom and doom of global politics? How about a hit of Brazilian world-jazz of the "sal, sol, sul" variety? Ella & The Bossa Beat's Amare might be the ticket. For an idea of the ethos, consider a few of the titles: "Mais que um Verão" (More than a Summer), "Areia" (Sand), "Amanhecer" (Dawning), "Summer Rain," "Amare." Salt, sun, south, and of course, love...

On their fourth project together, the father-daughter songwriting team of Orlando-based Brazilian singer-pianist Ella Blu and drummer-percussionist Magrus Borges offers a dreamy album of original music recorded in Italy in collaboration with São Paulo-born Milan-based songwriter and singer-guitarist Toco (Tomaz Di Cunto).

Blu, who counts Orlando's Best Female Singer among her awards, croons comfortably in English and Italian as well as Portuguese, while ably covering the piano and synth chairs. Borges, who has a Grammy nomination under his belt, has collaborated with the likes of Bebel Gilberto, Shakira, Grace Jones, Tania Maria, Larry Coryell, and Caetano Veloso. Their working band features Andre Lafaete on bass and guitar, with Alain Bradette on saxophone and flute. Rounding out the ensemble on the album are Robson Barros on bass, Francesco Borelli on guitars, Luciano Cantone on vibraphone, and Jonathan Dills on cello.

 "Mais que um Verão" opens the program, setting the scene with a whistle that sounds like a bird and a surf-like wash of percussion over a tranquil tresillo rhythm. "Foi muito mais que uma cançao" she sings, sotto voce ("it was much more than a song"). The tempo goes up a notch to an easygoing partido alto on "Shine Your Light" ("love is a place, and I want to go"). Gianluca Petrella arrives on trombone by the fourth track, announcing a funky "Milano Beat" that complements "Italian Dream" (track six) and "Amare," the album closer, both of which Blu sings in Italian.

These are the kind of tunes that feel good in the car, at a roof party, on the beach, or solo in the hammock. In fact, Amare is the sort of album that fits anywhere you might desire a "living is easy" vibe. In interesting times, such as the summer of 2026, that is a welcome thing.