Brazilian

When you think Brazilian, what comes to mind? If you answered “The Girl From Ipanema,” then we’re on the same sonic wavelength. The classic recording from Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, and jazzman Stan Getz is the ultimate expression of what’s come to represent Brazilian music, evoking hot sands, tanned skin, and sultry sensuality. But believe us, there’s more and we’ve got it, from the hip-swiveling tropicalia of Jorge Ben and an afro-enhanced “Ponta de Lanca African (Umbabarauma),” to a quirky cover of David Bowie’s “Life On Mars?” from new-school samba icon Seu Jorge.

Hop on the iTunes tour bus as we head into Next Steps for a bounty of Brazilian tunes.

The rich and complex heritage of Brazilian music lives and breathes in Next Steps, as vocalist and tropicalia superstar Gal Costa blends jazz, soul-style brass, afro-percussion, and bossa-pop into one stunning “Flor De Maracuja.” Renowned guitarist Baden Powell highlights the classical roots of bossa nova on the instrumental beauty “Consolacao,” while 21st-century singer Céu lays her genre-busting “Cangote” over electronicized reggae rhythms, and national treasure and jazz-pop boundary breaker Milton Nascimento puts his pipes to the service of a stunning “San Vicente.”

Hold tight — we’re heading deep into Brazilian territory in Deep Cuts.

Welcome to Brazilian Deep Cuts, where beloved rockers Os Mutantes employ their anything-goes approach for the playful avant-pop of “Panis Et Circenses.” And, in a marvelous, mind-boggling mash-up, new-school crooner Michael Bublé teams up with Rio songwriter Ivan Lins for a sparkling bossa-nova cover of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight.” Get down South American-style to the samba-rock of Trio Mocotó and “Beleza! Beleza!! Beleza!!!,” then play compare and contrast with early sounds from superstar Caetano Veloso (“Superbacana”) and some new-millennium synth-samba from Cibelle and “Deixa.”

Brazil may be the fifth-largest country in the world — spanning three time zones, it shares a border with every South American country save Ecuador and Chile — but that hasn’t stopped us from scouring the nation from mountains to seaside to bring you the best of its vast musical riches. Our Brazilian Essentials bursts with traditional favorites like the bossa-nova party-pop of “Mais Que Nada” from Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, but we’ve also included new takes on the tried-and-true — dig Bebel Gilberto’s ’04 version of “Baby,” the much-covered ‘60s classic by Brazilian hero Caetano Veloso — and new-direction sounds like a gorgeous “Depois Do Sonha” from jazz violão virtuoso Guinga. From the jazz bossa “Desafinado” from Joao Gilberto & Stan Getz, to the electronica smoothie of Céu and “Lenda,” it’s the best of Brazil in one easy tour.