It would be glib to tag OPA as ‘the Uruguyan Azymuth’, but the brothers Fattoruso, keyboardist Hugo and drummer George, hailed from Montevideo not Rio De Janeiro, and were active at roughly the same time as the creators of ‘Jazz Carnival.’

The comparison is inevitable because of a shared Latin-fusion vocabulary, in which Rhodes and synths are prominent, though dense layers of percussion also define Goldenwings.

The Brazilian connection is solidified by the presence of Airto Moreira as producer and Hermeto Pascoal on flute, which adds finesse to a strong set of songs. ‘African Bird’, a cult track for soul boys who dug jazz back in the 1980s, sounds as magical now as it did almost 50 years ago. The soaring, wistful melodies, strong energetic solos and rich textural palette ensure that OPA remains a key group in the history of jazz made in South America that deserves international recognition.