Francisco Mário (1948-1988) was a guitarist and composer of startling originality whose music synthesized many Brazilian styles and flavors--from the folk traditions of his native Minas Gerais and the chorinhos of northeastern Brazil to waltzes, polkas, marching music, even Argentine tangos. This CD pairs two exemplary albums: Retratos, a series of "portraits" of his countrymen, and Conversa de Cordas, Couros, Palhetas e Metais, perhaps his most critically a… MORE