Brazilian Keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami formed the internationally renowned band Azymuth in 1971; the group also featured Alex Malheiros (bass) and Ivan Conte drums, and was sometimes joined in his percussion duties by Aleuda. Adopting the popular jazz-funk style, Azymuth enjoyed a worldwide hit in 1980 with "Jazz Carnival", from their Light As A Feather set.

As such they were largely responsible for an upsurge of interest in Brazilian music, with a host of big-name American jazz acts journeying to South America to record.

While commercial success for the band was difficult to maintain, their subsequent Releases were always of interest to the jazz-funk crowd.

Both Bertrami Blue Wave, 1983, and Dreams Are Real, 1986 and Malheiros Atlantic Forest, 1985 also recorded solo outings for the Milestone label.

Well into the new millennium a chance meeting and the prospect of a collaboration with Eddie Palermo put José in the mood to ride the crest of a new wave. Now we can all enjoy the fruits of their encounter which led to the recording of "Things Are Different".

This is how the man himself tells it:

"It all began in mid-September 2000, when my son victor introduced me to the guitarist Eddie Palemo, who was visiting Rio. Having already recorded with Joe Pass ("Crazy Rhythms") and with Helio Delmiro ("Blue Wave"), I immediately that this was to be another great encounter.

I prepared two tunes. Adding to these two more that I had written for a fluegelhorn arrangement for Paulinho Trompete, there were four. Then I remembered a xaxado named "Itacuruçá" which I wrote for Aleuda and Robertinho Silva. That made five. That same night I ran into my friend Paulinho Soledade at the Bico bar in Copacabana. We decided to get together to record a version of "Céu E Mar" by Johnny Alf, a super-classy 50s tune. Now I had six.

I went home and tried unsuccessfully to sleep. The sun was beginning to come up; I looked out at the sea and made a decision. I'm going to do this NOW! The whole thing was ready by the time Carnival 2001 was happening".

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