Latino Fantastico

2010 release. Far Out Recordings present a reissue of Rubens Bassini y Los Latinos's Latino Fantastico, originally released in 1963. Rubens Bassini was one of Brazil's finest and most respected percussionists and a vital component of the original Os Ipanemas and Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66, plus later '77 and '88 incarnations. This 1963 solo outing, originally released as a limited vinyl LP, is full of deep traditional African, Brazilian, Cuban and South American rhythms and moments of unexpected blissful folk and hypnotic psychedelia. Wind and strings provide unusual arrangements for Bassini's pulsating bongos and endless exotic percussion to explode through. Featuring an all-star team of '60s Rio players this vivid percussion dream can finally be heard in all it's mythical glory. Rubens Bassini is the forgotten percussion master of Brazilian music. While those he played with - including Wilson Das Neves and Sergio Mendes - rose to huge international fame Bassini's solo recordings became rare mythical collector's items. Rubens Bassini E Os 11 Magníficos's 1964 Ritmo Fantastico was reissued back in 2002; however it's this 1963 Latino Fantastico project with Los Latinos that is his true solo masterpiece. And that's where Rubens Bassini's link with Far Out Recordings lies. One of label boss Joe Davis's favorite bands, obsessed with his original copy of their '64 LP, he brought the last two surviving members - Das Neves and Neco - of the original Os Ipanemas back together in 1999 to record The Return Of The Ipanemas (2001) 35 years after their debut. With 2010's, Que Beleza (2010), Far Out Recordings has now released five internationally acclaimed Ipanemas albums and Davis's attention was instantly caught by the opportunity to reissue Latino Fantastico from the Ipanemas incomparable percussionist Bassini (who sadly passed away in 1985). Far Out Recordings stay true to the original release with beautifully recreated artwork. All 19 tracks re-mastered from original tapes for a high definition sound. Rubens Bassini's original track-by-track sleeve notes describing the traditional rhythms and instruments are presented here, translated from Portuguese.