Dance CD of the Month - "The Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra feat. Bertrami, Verocai & Malheiros"

Dance Album of the Month
"The Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra Feat. José Roberto Bertrami, Arthur Verocai, Alex Malheiros & More" (Far Out FARO 181 DCD, 2-CD set)

Project Producer: Joe Davis
Assistant Producers: José Roberto Bertrami & Alex Malheiros
Arranged by Bertrami, Malheiros & Arthur Verocai
String & Horn Arrangements: Arthur Verocai
Recorded @ Cia. dos Técnicos Studio by Mario Jorge Bruno
Assistant Enginers: Daniel Maunick, David Brinkworth & Magrão
Sleeve Design: Swifty

Featuring: José Roberto Bertrami (piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, Mini Moog, Vocoder, synthesizers), Alex Malheiros (electric bass, electric guitar), Paulinho Black & Flavio Santos (drums), Rafael Rocha & Zero (percussion), Zé Carlos & Fabio Lima (electric guitars), Altair Martins & Jessé Sadoc (trumpet), Johnson de Almeida & Aldivas Ayres (trombone), Ricardo Pontes (alto sax), Zé Carlos Bigorna & Paulo Renato Franco (tenor sax), Paulo Guimarães (flute), DJ Kuku (scratching), Daniel Maunick (drum programming), Mia Mendes & Marcina Arnold (vocals) et al.

One of the most interesting albums on Far Out Recordings' catalog, features the late genius José Roberto Bertrami, Alex Malheiros and Arthur Verocai. This trio wrote most of the tunes, and recorded the basic tracks & the string section (8 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos) in Rio. Some overdubs and the vocals were later added in London.

I vividly remember Bertrami talking enthusiastically about the project ("it's going to be the Brazilian version of the MFSB Sound of Philadelphia!") and showing me some of his songs -- "Don't Cha Know He's Alright," "Freefall," "The Last Carnival" and "Keep Believing" -- when we were on the road back in 2009. Verocai also contributed some strong originals like "A Disco Supreme" (inspired by John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme") and "Mystery." And Malheiros' always perfect bass lines & unlimited sense of groove are the ice of the cake.

Disc 2 includes remixes exclusively, prepared by renowned dudes like Luca Trevise (better known as LTJ X-Perience), Theo Parrish, John Morales, Mark Pritchard, Marcellus Pittman, Jose Carretas and Mark E.

If you love lushly orchestrated disco music from the late 70s, this is for you.