Bossa nova and other Brazilian musics became hipper than ever in the mid-'90s. Dionne Warwick's 1994 release AQUARELA DO BRASIL, a collection of Brazilian jazz and pop tunes, is an early example of this newfound cachet.
Wisely downplaying the overexposed standards--no "The Girl From Ipanema" here, and even the requisite Antonio Carlos Jobim medley focuses on relative obscurities like "Waters of March"--Warwick sings, in both English and Portuguese, with just the right amount of swing and ease. The gorgeous title track is a sublime highlight, as is an intriguing cover of Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington's massively influential "Caravan." The arrangements are a little fussy at times, but overall, this is one of the best Brazilian crossover discs of its era.
![Dionne [1972]](https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=HLSNKMLSkrKaQrhYyPBuwSpQg_7iAU1wjqLgK_xGXts=&f=1)
![Dionne [1979]](https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=QtRsee2u8KI2Z_R6gok5KR_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=1)
![Hot! Live and Otherwise [Arista]](https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=nYK9Z7Je7OKn1lyV3iWNCphUoDg0hsvx4F4sL4oO-nA=&f=1)
