Trio Mocoto was formed in 1968 in São Paulo and became an early, deep influence to the burgeoning samba rock genre. The group recorded three albums in the ‘60s and ‘70s, including a hit single Coqueiro Verde. Their approach to music was always to incorporate humor and joie de vivre into their sounds, even when they approached that typical Brazilian melancholy. “That's the Brazilian way of looking at life,” they say. The trio began recording and touring again in the early 2000s, finding success with European and Japanese audiences.
Trio Mocoto, the group’s second album, was released in 1973. From the opening build up of strings, brass and shy piano, it’s clear that the album is a samba gem. It holds the perfect balance of serious instrumentation and playful riffing. Any moment, the sound threatens to devolve into cheesiness, but remains delightfully and skillfully unpredictable. For fans of Seu Jorge, the beloved Brazilian that did the music for The Life Aquatic, Trio Mocoto is undeniably a direct influence. For a classic Brazilian samba and jazz record, look no further.
Enjoy.
Trio Mocoto - Trio Mocoto:
Pair this album with:
Caipirinha. The national cocktail of Brazil. It’s a bit like a mojito, but has a bit more Brazilian umpfh to it. Simple, great for summer, refreshing.
The Perfect Steak. I’m not really a huge Tik Tok user, but there’s some great recipes on there. This steak recipe comes from a kid asking his Iron Chef judge dad how to make good food. It’s quite fun. Looks very good.
Pão de Queijo, i.e. Brazilian Cheese Bread. Bonus bread! This is a delightful cheese bread made with tapioca flour, meaning its gluten-free and perfect for the modern dinner party with its various diet restrictions.
Thank you, thank you. Have a great weekend.