Bossa Nova, as a specific genre, has always had the strongest ties to jazz, with more or less connections to other musical genres, and one of the most prominent Brazilian artists with that jazz connection from the prime time of Bossa Nova has been singer (and songwriter) Joyce Moreno, who often recorded just as Joyce.
With more than five decades on the music scene, Moreno stuck to her Bossa and jazz concept, without ever coming up with something that could be called a bad or average record, and at the same time sticking to her social and political views, with some of her songs being censored during Brazil’s military dictatorship (from the mid-sixties to mid-eighties).
Luckily, Moreno still records, and with her latest album Never Too Soon she is still not coming up with a single wrong note. Sure, there is an incredible lineup of Brazil’s best Bossa and jazz musicians like legendary guitarist Toninho Horta playing here, but it is an all-around Joyce Moreno show, particularly with her always incredible vocal styling that is still in full form.
To some, it might be strange that an artist with 50 years or so on the music scene is still able to come up with excellent music, but to Joyce Moreno, that doesn’t seem to be something she bothers about, as she keeps coming up with brilliant music all over again.
