SAO PAULO-based Afro-Brazilian 10-piece horn-led band Bixiga 70 return to the studio with a new set on Glitterbeat Records called Vapor — their first studio outing since 2018.

Since then Brazil has changed culturally and politically.

The pandemic hit Brazil hard. Baritone sax man Cuca Ferreira told the Morning Star: “Being a large band we’ve always depended on our live performances to exist. So when the pandemic came we were severely hurt, and we were not sure if we would be able to keep the band active. Everyone had to invent something new to do and make some money, it was really tough. We only started creating something new when things got better and we were able to meet again.”

The band’s name comes from the Bixiga neighbourhood, a melting pot of Brazilian’s and immigrants. “Bixiga has always been artistic, it welcomes immigrants. Former slaves lived here at first, then Europeans from Italy, and people came from the north-east of Brazil. Now it’s Nigerians and refugees who arrive here. It’s not by chance that samba flourished here! The area is a beautiful mess!” Cuca says.

The political change in Brazil with the election of Lula as president also made a difference to music.“It is like we can see the light again,” says Cuca. “We had four years of a tragic extreme-right government that had a clear project of destroying every aspect of Brazilian identity, from the Amazon to our culture.

“So just leaving that behind has completely changed the mood, people look at the future with a new optimistic feeling. So far we can see the whole cultural scene with a new vitality. We’ve always supported Lula and his values. We played in protest concerts during his jail period, and we were there playing in Brasilia for his inauguration.”

On Vapor they are joined by Simone Sou, the acclaimed Brazilian percussionist on the opener Malungu which she co-wrote with the band. Get your dancing shoes on for a rip-roaring trip through the sound of Sao Paulo funk and jazz.

Analog Africa’s new set from the mysterious Guinean guitarist Leon Keita comes on a limited edition vinyl release.

Keita was a fixture on the 1970s Malian music scene, playing a mix of funk, afro-beat, and Cuban jazz. He helped found the legendary Rail-Band in 1970. Later called the Super Rail Band they were the first West African band to combine Afro-Latin sounds with traditional Malian instruments and styles becoming the top attraction at Bamako’s night clubs and dance halls and launching the careers of Salif Keita and Mory Kante.

Leon himself went on to join Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, waxing the classic Gnanassouma in 1978 and recording Diarabi Mana, an Afrobeat fusion with Mandingue music, backed by Beninese Orchestre Black Santiago (both featured here) and by led Ignace de Souza, whose infectious trumpet solo is treat.

Bixiga 70 play Jazz Cafe in London on Wednesday October 18 and Manchester’s The Blues Kitchen on Thursday October 19.