This month's Balance Digs Brazil has some absolutely beautiful music that moves me as I hope it will you – and in amongst this mix is Miriam Makeba from South Africa with her version of Brazilian Jorge Ben Jor’s “Xica da Silva” (1978) - · Its a homage to Chica da Silva an 18th Century woman born into slavery who later became a prominent figure in Brazilian society. Ben’s version is gorgeous and is hard to top, but Miriam Makeba ‘s hauntingly beautiful cover, released two years later is just stunning.
website - https://www.nudirectionsfm.com/
Music player - https://pod.co/nudirections
All other info - https://linktr.ee/NDFM
Please enjoy the music we love
Playlist
Zé Roberto – Lotus 72D
Seu Jorge e Milton Nascimento - Tudo Que Você Podia Ser - Milton e o Clube da Esquina
Orqustra Afrosinfonica - Onde Estao as Borboletas (feat Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
Miriam Makeba - Xica da Silva
Chico Chico - Sol de Maio
Criolo Nao - Existe Amor em SP
Joyce with Mauricio Maestro - Descompassadamente (Far Out)
Tiganá Santana – Flor Destinada
Abayomy Afrobeat Orquestra – Sensitva
Xenia Franca – (Sem Razao) – A Colour Show
Gilberto Gil - Esperando na janela
Fernanda Porto - Sambassim
Wilson Simoninha - Bebete Vãobora
Marcos Valle - Agua De Coco
Smoke City - O Cara Lindo - Mr. Gorgeous
La Dame Blanche - La Revancha
Jazz Matters
Jazz Matters is a not-for-profit hobby project that I’m extremely proud of.
It began life in May 2021 as NuDirections, a weekly radio show on a London community station. That spirit of discovery still runs through everything I do.
But today, Jazz Matters has evolved into a global podcast platform for Jazz and World music lovers — reaching over 40,000 open-minded listeners across 57 countries on more than 24 platforms.2025/6 marks a new era. My love of music has always gone beyond Jazz, so I’ve created two distinct but connected spaces here
Jazz Matters: Podcasts, Playlists and Music Videos.
Jazz Lines: Blogs, Interviews, Gallery & Pulse for Who's Shaping the Scene.
I’m also preparing a full digital relaunch from my new studio, from 1st May 2026, then every Jazz Matters podcast, mix, and special will stream exclusively from my website—no third-party platforms and no algorithms. Until then, you can listen here and on 24+ podcast platforms.
Alongside the music, you’ll find in Jazz Lines, my platform for blogs, interviews, gallery, and pulse that links to things that catch my ear and eye. A bold new chapter begins soon. New location. New music player. New studio.
Jazz Matters. Because the music — and everything around it — truly does.
Enjoy the music I love