Bossa Nova Pioneer Carlos Lyra Returns to the U.S. After 50 Years

Carlos Lyra at Birdland, NYC, May 29, 2015 (photo: Jack Vartoogian)

Brazilian popular music is so rich as to constitute a parallel universe to the American Songbook.  And in that universe, no songwriters shine more brightly than Carlos Lyra and Marcos Valle, both of whom appeared at last week’s “BossaBrasil” festival at Birdland. Lyra was making a triumphant return to the U.S. stage after an absence of 50 years.  My review is now posted at DownBeat.com.