Brasilian Skies

Brasilian Skies is the fourth studio album by Japanese jazz fusion guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka, released via Kitty Records on July 21, 1978. The album's initial release was distributed in two physical formats: a vinyl record and on a cassette tape. Stylistically, the record unites jazz-fusion with bossa nova, samba, and progressive rock and soul.^[1]

Brasilian Skies
Studio album by Masayoshi Takanaka
Released	July 21, 1978
Recorded	1978
Studio	PolyGram Studios, Rio de Janeiro Westlake Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Jazz fusion
Length	47:33
Label	Kitty Records
Producer	Masayoshi Takanaka
Masayoshi Takanaka chronology
An Insatiable High (1977) Brasilian Skies (1978) On Guitar (1978)

Background

Masayoshi traveled to Brazil in 1978 to record part of the album at PolyGram's studios in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. The remainder of the record was recorded at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, California.^[1]

In 2018, Masayoshi held a 40th anniversary tour of the album's release in Japan with the theme of Brasilian Skies. The five-show concert tour commenced on September 22 at the Hitomi Memorial Hall in Tokyo and ended on October 28 in Osaka.^[2] A live album recording from his performance at the Tokyo Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on October 13 was released on May 22, 2019.^[3]

Track listing

All music is composed by Masayoshi Takanaka, except "I Remember Clifford" by Max Roach, and "Star Wars Samba" by John Williams. All arrangements by Masayoshi Takanaka.

Brasilian Skies track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Beleza Pula"	7:53
2.	"Brasilian Skies"	5:53
3.	"Nights"	4:54
4.	"I Remember Clifford"	5:25
5.	"Star Wars Samba"	3:45
6.	"Disco 'B'"	6:39
7.	"Funky Holo Holo Bird"	6:16
8.	"Izu Amanatsu Nattō Uri" (伊豆甘夏納豆売り)	6:49
Total length:		47:33

Personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from liner notes^[4]

Masayoshi Takanaka – guitar, production, remixing Haruko Kawana – backing vocals Ryuichi Sakamoto – keyboard, strings Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar Getao Takahashi – bass guitar Scott Edwards – bass guitar Barrozo Netto – bass guitar Sergio Portillo – bass guitar Daudeth De Azevedo – cavaquinho Maria Aparecida De Souza – backing vocals Maria Helena Violinn – backing vocals Maria Rita Kfouri – backing vocals James Gadson – drums Jeff Porcaro – drums Shi-chan Inque (Shigeru Inoue) – drums

Wilson das Neves – drums Motoya Hamaguchi – flute Marlo Henderson – guitar Keiko Yamakawa – harp Greg Phillinganes – keyboard Kiyosumi Ishikawa – keyboard Sergio Carvalho – keyboard Altamiro Coelho Rosa – percussion Antenor Marques Filho – percussion Elyeu Felico – percussion Hermes Coutesini – percussion Luna Do Pander – percussion Motoya Hamaguchi – percussion Milton Delfind Marcal – percussion Paulinho da Costa – percussion

Release history

Release history for Brasilian Skies

Region	Date	Formats	Label	Ref.
Japan	July 21, 1978	Vinyl cassette	Kitty Records	[4]
	1987	CD		[5]
	June 26, 2013	CD (Remastered)	Universal Music Japan	[6]

References

1. Schott, Ricardo (January 15, 2021). "Sambão de Star Wars, com Masayoshi Takanaka". Pop Fantasma (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved April 7, 2022.
2. "高中正義、『Brasilian Skies』40周年全国ツアーが開幕". OKMusic (in Japanese). September 23, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
3. "高中正義、2018年の日比谷野音公演を収めるライヴDVDをリリース". CD Journal (in Japanese). April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
4. "Masayoshi Takanaka – Brasilian Skies (1978, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
5. "Masayoshi Takanaka – Brasilian Skies (CD, 1987)". Discogs. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
6. "Masayoshi Takanaka – Brasilian Skies (CD Remastered, 2013)". Discogs. June 26, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2022.

External links

Brasilian Skies at Discogs (list of releases)