Albums slip by quickly enough. Even more so when they are digital-only, which is the case in terms of a UK release for new Marcos Valle/Stacey Kent album Ao Vivo (clips above).

Not quite sure the rationale here but I suppose diehard fans will pick it up on CD on import even at a higher price. Recently playing Birdland in New York Stacey Kent comments: “This show with Marcos is a dream!” The singer’s album The Changing Lights, released last year, is reviewed here.

Ao Vivo marks Valle’s half century-long career in music, the songwriter recording this new album with Stacey and her husband saxophonist Jim Tomlinson in Rio. Songs include ‘Summer Samba (Samba de Verão)’, ‘If You Went Away (Preciso Aprender a Ser Só)’, and ‘The Face I Love (Seu Encanto).’ SG