A collection of Brazilian jazz and pop tunes, ranging from bossa nova to samba, the album consists of original songs as well as several cover versions, including standards such as "Caravan" and its title track.

Warwick paired herself with Téo Lima to produce the entire album which was recorded in Brazil and Los Angeles, involving help from Dori Caymmi, Oscar Castro-Neves, Brenda Russell, and Patrick Williams, among others.

[2] The same year, Warwick bought an old Spanishstyle castle in Bahia in the northeast of Brazil and began recording her next project, a collection of Brazilian jazz and pop tunes, with producer Téo Lima.

[3] Unlike her previous project, which she "hated,"[4] Warwick enjoyed the album recordings for Aquarela do Brasil,[4] during which she was coached by her background singer Eliana Estevao in Portuguese pronunciation.

[4] While the rhythm tracks and vocals were in finished in Brazil, Lima flew to Los Angeles where the strings, horns, and backgrounds were recorded and arrangers Dori Caymmi, Oscar Castro-Neves, Brenda Russell, and Patrick Williams joined the team.