This compilation kicks off with the fender rhodes-led »Ocean Song« by the Sunbirds. If you're a DJ this one should make your dancefloor cook despite the 5/4 pace. It features Klaus Weiss on drums and Fritz Pauer on piano, the latter also having written the tune. This gem is lifted from the scarcely seen 1972 LP "Zagara" on Finger Records.

Next up is Namaz, a young Heidelberg fusion outfit. »Anticipated Joy« is a bright summer samba with some nice acoustic guitar work from Werner Goos. The scat vocalese comes from none other than tenor sax man Sal Nistico's wife Rachel Gould.

Quarteto Novo, feat. top percussionist Airto and flutist Hermeto Pascoal, recorded the cult classic »Misturada« in Brazil, 1967. Another version of »Misturada« ( = "Mixing") appeared on Airto's US-debut-LP "Natural Feelings" in 1970. We give you the European fusion treatment of "Mixing" by tenor sax man Rainer Pusch - also from Heidelberg - and his Quartet. Check the b-line! That tune definitely leads somewhere...

Some of you might be familiar with the club anthem "New Morning" by the Stuttgart-based fusion band Kitty Winter Gipsy Nova. From the same 1978 LP "Feel It", we decided to choose »Mato Pato«, an uptempo fusion. Kittys scat works well over the spacey keyboard work of the very talented Kuno Schmid.

»Glücklich« , which means "happy", is the way To Be must have felt when recording this classic piece of mellow summer fusion. This five-piece band hails from Jork, a small town near Hamburg. »Glücklich« with its breezy guitar licks and solid drum 'n' bass sound originally came out on their self-titled debut album for the Deutsch(Kraut)rock-label Brain.

American guitarist John Thomas is joined by german singer Monika Linges on a splendid sunny samba. »Like A Samba« also features excellent piano playing by Andy Lumpp and a solid percussive rhythm unit. You can't go wrong with those ingredients.

One-two-hand-clap-one-two-hand-clap... , some of you London jazz clubbers will most definitley recognise this one: »Onkel Joe« by the Munich-based jazz rock trio Catch Up. Milan Pilar's bass sets the base, master drummer Charlie Antolini sets the pace and Max Greger Jr., son of Max Greger Sen. (a well known name in the German big band scene), provides the keys. Phat, orgiastic and uncommon!

The Real Ax Band is up next with the hard-hitting »Samba Mortale«. An uptempo percussive piano-led rhythm section meets Maria Archers uplifting vocals and a fierce guitar solo by Heinz-Otto Gwiasda. This one should rock your house party! This bunch of easy-going hippies is an offspring of the progressive Deutschrock group Embryo. They lived together in a commune in the mid-70's, founded the very popular "Umsonst & Draußen-Festivals" (which means: free entry open air), perfecting the art of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Klaus Doldinger, one of the very big names in German jazz, contributes to this compilation with a track recorded before his Passport-years. On »Brazilian Thoroughfare« the tenor sax great teams up with Ingfried Hoffmann on keys and again drum ace Klaus Weiss (also responsible for Sunbirds and the group Niagara), who lays down a solid bossa beat. Check the fender break right after the middle. Safe!

Finally we decided to lift another track from the scarce Namaz LP "300 M.P.H." that already gave us "Anticipated Joy". »Mystic Latin«, a sparkling Brasilian-style fusion pearly, again features vocalist Rachel Gould on scat. Towards the middle of the track you'll hear inspired solos by guitarist Werner Goos, who also wrote the tune, and keyboardist Joachim Essig. Listen to the way they play together. Deep!

Whether you're in London, Tokyo or Castrop-Rauxel put on your Pumas, samba sandals, Loafers or whatever and get down to the European-sound adaption of brazilian lifestyle.

liner notes by Rainer Trüby (A Forest Mighty Black), July 1994.