Bossa Nova Around the World US/Canada Release Date: January 11, 2011 (International release dates vary) From Rio to Paris and beyond, a global spin on this popular musical style

FEATURED ARTISTS: Bïa (Brazil/France/Canada) ! Nancy Vieira with Tito Paris (Cape Verde/Portugal) ! Didier Sustrac (France) ! 2raumwohnung (Germany) ! Pierre Aderne!"#$%&'()*$%+,-.!/!Amanda Martinez!"0%+%1%)2-3',4.!/!Tom Joy!"*$%+,-.!/!Dusko Goykovich "5-$6'%.!/!Hilde Hefte!"74$8%9.!/!Stacey Kent and Jim Tomlinson ":5;):<.!/!Monla "54=>?!<4$-%.!/!Kad Achouri (France)

Putumayo World Music announces the January 11, 2011 release of Bossa Nova Around the World, the latest album in the label’s successful “Around the World” music series. Originating among a small collective of musical visionaries in the late 1950s, bossa nova helped bring the sounds of Brazil to the world. The recent success of artists such as Bebel Gilberto and the popularity of the bossa sound in the lounge and electronica music scenes demonstrate its continued appeal to contemporary musicians and audiences. Bossa Nova Around the World album curator and Putumayo founder Dan Storper comments, “As I’ve traveled the world, it’s been fascinating to see how certain musical genres like Brazilian bossa nova have been embraced globally, and, like reggae, seem to blend effortlessly with other rhythms, melodies and languages.” These 12 artists from South America, North America, Asia, Africa and Europe have creatively adapted this mellifluous musical style into their repertoires. Canada-based Brazilian singer Bïa opens the collection with “Jardim (Jardin D’hiver)”, a song made famous by late French music legend Henri Salvador, who helped popularize the bossa nova sound in the Francophone world. Successors of Salvador’s legacy, French musicians Didier Sustrac and Tom & Joy (Thomas Naïm and Joyce Hozé- Liwer) demonstrate the unique compatibility between the French language and bossa nova on their tracks “Tout Seul” (All Alone) and “Meditation.” Tito Paris joins fellow Cape Verdean singer Nancy Vieira, who incorporates bossa nova with the flavors of Cape Verdean coladeira on the ballad “Esperança de Mar Azul” (Hope for a Blue Sea). American Stacey Kent, a mainstay on the European jazz scene, is joined by British jazz musician and husband Jim Tomlinson on “So Nice,” one of the most recognizable songs in the bossa nova repertoire. Legendary Serbian jazz trumpeter and composer Dusko Goykovich contributes the swinging instrumental song “Menina Moça.” Innovative South Korean singer Monla, whose music creatively blends elements of jazz, Korean pop and other genres, contributes the love song “Railroad.” Other artists featured on the CD include Mexican/Canadian Latin jazz artist Amanda Martinez, German alt-pop/ electronica duo 2raumwohnung, Norwegian jazz vocalist Hilde Hefte, multicultural French artist Kad Achouri and Brazilian/French singer-songwriter Pierre Aderne. The album includes bilingual English/Spanish liner notes with detailed artist and song information. Putumayo’s “Around the World” series, which includes Salsa Around the World, Jazz around the World, Blues Around the World and Tango Around the World, has sold almost 1 million copies. Its successful Brazilian music series includes Brazilian Cafe, Brazilian Lounge, Acoustic Brazil and Samba Bossa Nova. For more information on Bossa Nova Around the World or other Putumayo CDs and World Culture products, visit www.putumayopress.com or contact:

Contact: North American & Caribbean Lifestyle Media: Yann Perrigault, +1-212-625-1400, ext. 223; [email protected] Web Promotion/DJs/Record Pools: Kaveh Sarfehjooy, +1-212-625-1400, ext. 213; [email protected]