Brasilian Skies is the fourth studio album by Japanese musician, producer and composer Masayoshi Takanaka, released by Kitty Records on July 21, 1978. It was initially released on vinyl and cassette. The album features jazz fusion with bossa nova, samba, and progressive rock and soul.
Background Masayoshi traveled to Brazil in 1978 to record part of the album at PolyGram's studios in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. The remainder of the record was recorded at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, California.
In 2018, Masayoshi held a 40th anniversary tour of the album's release in Japan with the theme of Brasilian Skies. The five-show concert tour commenced on September 22 at the Hitomi Memorial Hall in Tokyo and ended on October 28 in Osaka. A live album recording from his performance at the Tokyo Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on October 13 was released on May 22, 2019.
Track listing All music is composed by Masayoshi Takanaka, except the song, "I Remember Clifford" by Benny Golson, and the song, "Star Wars Samba" by John Williams. All arrangements by Masayoshi Takanaka.
Personnel Credits and personnel adapted from liner notes
Masayoshi Takanaka – guitar, production, remixing Haruko Kuwana – backing vocals Maria Aparecida De Souza – backing vocals Maria Helena Violin – backing vocals Maria Rita Kfouri – backing vocals Marlo Henderson – guitar Daudeth De Azevedo – cavaquinho Ryuichi Sakamoto – keyboards, strings Sergio Carvalho – keyboards Kiyosumi Ishikawa – keyboards Greg Phillinganes – keyboards Scott Edwards – bass guitar Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar Sergio Barrozo Neto – bass guitar Sergio Portillo – bass guitar Getao Takahashi – bass guitar James Gadson – drums Shigeru "Shi-chan" Inoue – drums Wilson das Neves – drums Jeff Porcaro – drums Keiko Yamakawa – harp Motoya Hamaguchi – percussion, flute Paulinho da Costa – percussion Hermes Coutesini – percussion Elizeu Félix – percussion Antenor Marques Filho – percussion Nilton Delfino Marçal – percussion Luna do Pander – percussion Altamiro Coelho Rosa – percussion
Tokio Shibata – production assistance Hiromi Yasuda – production assistance Cláudio Conde – music coordination Naomi Niimura – music coordination Olivia Page – music coordination Masaru Takagi – engineering, remixing Ary Carvalhaes – engineering Stephen Hodge – engineering Julinho – assistant engineer Dave Rideau – assistant engineer Koichi Chigi – design Hidenori Taga – executive production
Charts + Chart performance for Brasilian Skies Chart (2026) Peakposition US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard) 14
Release history + Release history for Brasilian Skies Region Date Formats Label Japan July 21, 1978 Kitty Records 1987 CD June 26, 2013 CD (Remastered) Universal Music Japan
See also 1978 in Japanese music
References
External links