Ocean Memories
This gorgeous, haunting, and propulsive two-CD collection of solo guitar pieces was recorded in the 1970s by Djalma de Andrade, a black Brazilian who first came to the United States in 1959 after decades steeped in Rio's jazz and folk music scenes. After being "discovered" by Dizzy Gillespie,  de Andrade--whose stage name was Bola Sete, or "seven ball," the black ball in Brazilian pool--played in a number of popular jazz combos before turning to solo guitar in 1970. Touring around California, de Andrade perfected a formidably unique blend of classical Spanish guitar, jazz, American folk, bossa nova, and other Brazilian flavors. It's no surprise that John Fahey released half this strange and beautiful music on his Takoma label (this edition adds eight unreleased tracks). Some of these pieces glitter like moonlight on the sea, others surge like groaning storms, but throughout it all, de Andrade manages to conjure darkness without despair, and sweetness without cloying sentiment.--Erik Davis