Céu

You may have heard of this Brazilian chanteuse already, if you’re a listener to World Café or you’ve visited a Starbucks down south lately (since they co-produced her album). But if not, or if you’ve been putting off listening to her blend of jazz, soul and samba, then wait no more. Céu's self-titled album is beautifully mellow. She has a voice like cream (smooth, not clotted), and the music is soft and inviting. Don’t think this is a meditation tape, though, because the ever-present Latin beat will keep your hips swaying. Basically, if I close my eyes when I listen to this CD, I picture happy people in earnest conversation in a dark restaurant at a tropical resort with this music playing in the background. Not bad for a 4-minute track.