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To bring you some straight-up advertising for those who deserve it.
Those who respect the history of Brazilian funk and samba and are carrying the torch into the future. Rescuing gems from long-forgotten vinyl. Of course I'm speaking of Greg Caz and Sean Marquand. And thanks to NYC's very own TurntableLab.com, you can get these mix CDs no matter where you might live (if you come to the Brazilian Beat Brooklyn party at Black Betty, you can buy them in person).

So read Monk's descriptions (and click on TurntableLab's sound clips that I've linked to) and get a sense of what you're missing out on.

You've bought everyone else their Chrismukkah presents, isn't it time for a gift (or two) for yourself? I thought so:

BAILE FUNK 2: AGORA E MODA
They’ve done it again! Greg Caz and Sean Marquand, resident selectors at the great Brazilian Beat party and two of NYC’s top spinners of South America’s sexiest soul, have put together the long anticipated sequel to their necessary Baile Funk mix. There’s no weak spots in this collection of searing hot Brazilian funk, and in fact, if you get the impression that these guys could go on for days with this heat, you’re probably right. The mix presents a feast of hooks, beats, grooves and melodies, as well as a collector’s attention to obscure b-sides and forgotten album tracks (detailed in the informative liner notes). Picking highlights is as simple as hitting the “random” button on your CD player, but I’ll try to narrow things down to a couple of my favorites. Os Incriveis get things popping right from the jump with their wicked dedication to Herbie the Love Bug, a cut that demonstrates the fun and funky elements that remain constant throughout (and really, how could you go wrong when the Love Bug’s involved?). A few minutes later the boys turn up an unusual groover from legend Claudette Soares before moving on to “A Festa” by Silvio Cesar, a slinky, mesmerizing cut. Breakbeat heads will not be disappointed either. Drum master Chico Batera has you covered with “Oxossi;” or perhaps the Boogaloo Combo is more your style. The One Way/Al Hudson-esque jam “To Parado Na Tua” and Jorge & Olivetti’s “Aleluia,” which could be a Rodney Franklin outtake, showcase a slick ‘80s West Coast funk feel that rounds out the summertime vibe of the set. I’m running out of room, and I haven’t even mentioned the devastating Tim Maia jam, Wilson Simonal’s amazing Bacharach cover, or the ridiculously rare Jorge Ben and Azymuth cuts. This is a mix that anyone could enjoy, and an absolutely essential chapter for fans of Brazilian funk. -Monk

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VIVA O SAMBA!
One half of the team that brought us the Baile Funk/Brazilian Beat CD (one of our best selling mix cds of all-time), Greg Caz is serious about samba--don’t think this CD is some '60s Verve sambsploitation set, son. No Charlie Byrd chirps here, either. Just the pure cachaça, with a bit of sugar and lime thrown in to set it off. Now, I’m no expert, so I won’t pretend to have the wisdom to opine on whether or not Caz has selected Gordurinha’s best tune with “Oito Da Conceiçao” or whether Alcione’s “Acorda Que Eu Quero Ver” is out of context when juxtaposed with Fafa De Belem’s "Sirie.” Go read Wax Poetics for the dissertation, get back to me. All I know is that when Greg spins samba, women dance. It’s a simple and wonderful thing, like butterflies and iceys. And shouldn’t that be good enough for you? 29 tracks of the real deal, artists and titles noted (thank you very much), in a seamless blend so you have plenty of time to get out there on the floor and pretend you’re at a club with the Brasilian ladies’ soccer team. If you need further proof of the summer juice contained within, here are a couple more samples: Som Sete’s “Esquindindin,” “Boberia” by Edson Federico, and Wilson Simonal’s “Ninguem Tasca.” Recomendado, amigo. -Monk