In the summer of 2008 Acid Jazz Records released one of the most overlooked albums of the last decade, 'Maravilhas' by LeLeo.
Leonardo, the self proclaimed 'Brazilian mod', enjoyed a successful chart-topping career having worked with the top musicians from the Portuguese-speaking world including Gilberto Gil and Bernardo Vilhena, a famous Brazilian lyricist, with whom he subsequently started a partnership, the results of which can be heard on the album.
Leleo created his own distinctive and contemporary sound that still captures the happy flavour found in the 1970s style of artist like Jorge Benjor and Sergio Mendes. A blend of Sixties groove and bossa samba swing that he calls “Swing Bossa”.
Stand out tracks included 'Ela Briga Comigo', 'Motoboy' and 'Gisele', named after the Brazilian super-model.
Along with his band 'Maravilhas', from which the album gets it's title, Leleo played a few choice and sold out shows in and around London to promote the album, plus a live session on the Funk Show on BBC6. Yet despite healthy radio support surrounding his tour the album remains a 'best kept secret' amongst Latin aficionados and adventurous mods.
File Under Latin.
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