The concept for "Contatos" program was born when I was impressed by some similarities between northeastern Brazilian music and the music of eastern Europe. Most noticeably, the two traditions shared the strong presence of rhythm (despite very different time signatures) and a certain modal character. Madureira's pieces are very representative of northeast Brazilian music, while Rougier uses mixed measures with odd numbers of beats to render his guitar versions of Bulgarian, Romanian, and Greek themes. Bela Bartok in Hungary, Leo Brouwer in Cuba, and Octave Agobert in France did not limit themselves to their own cultural idioms. All thee were influenced by the old sounds of eastern Europe, although in the music included here a variety of other traditions are touched upon as well. Brouwer bases his last "Apunte" upon a Bulgarian theme, and opens his first with a Manuel de Falla quote. Completing this somewhat European excursion (from Spain to Bulgaria), are two pieces by Italian com poser Nuccio D'Angelo—musical abstractions that answer to my miniature for lute, "A Toy." For "Contatos," I have recorded in th studio for the first time, Rougier's and Agobert's original pieces, and their transcription for guitar of the "2 Mikrokosmos." I also have the great pleasure of premiering in its entirety Paulo Bellinati's "Suite Contatos," which illustrates another use of folk elements, this time in a modern Brazilian composition. "Contatos," Portuguese for contact, suggests exchange and reciprocity. Given that I was exploring connections, between cultures and times, it seemed natural to let Paulo's title grace this collection. CRISTINA AZUMA produced by Paulo Bellinati & Dean Kamei recorded by Teja Bell at Samurai Sound (Petaluma, California) mixed by John Strother (assisted by Rose Landauer) at Penguin Recording (Eagle Rock, California) mastered by Dave Schultz at Digiprep (Hollywood, California) photo by Kim Stringfellow graphics by GSP special thanks to Paulo Bellinati, Wagner Amorosino, and Dean Kamei. Thanks also go Geof Lipman for the use of his 1977 Herbert Hendrickson lut Another Cristina Azuma GSP Solo Guitar recording is "Dreams" GSP1033