Made in Brazil

WE'VE MOVED

2010-09-01T10:17:00.001-07:00

This blog has a new address: http://musicmadeinbrazil.tumblr.com/

New format: quick posts about the new Brazilian MPB. See you there!

January 25th is Bossa Nova Day

2008-01-25T10:47:00.000-08:00

January 25 is Tom Jobim's birthday. Tom is considered the father of Bossa Nova. Nothing more fair than celebrating the day of this music style TODAY!
Enjoy Elis Regina and Tom Jobim singing "Waters of March".

Luiz Melodia

2007-10-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Gafieira Samba is a rhythm originally from Rio de Janeiro and is the partner version of the world-renowned Brazilian samba.

Inspired by the gafieira samba of the 30s, 40s and 50s context, Luiz Melodia released a new album entitled "Estação Melodia" ( "Melody Station").

Mr. Melodia worked on this samba project for about six years. In mid 2006, he was commissioned to create a samba concert to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Teatro Rival, a concert hall in Rio; and the album was conceived.

Five years after his last album was released, Mr. Melodia comes back with an impeccable work, interpreting songs of various composers in such an involved way that the listener may think that he co-authored them. In "Estação", Mr. Melodia not only explores the samba of the 30s, 40s and 50s, but also rearranges other songs to sound as if they were composed during that time.

"Estação Melodia"opens up with a classic song of Cartola, "Tive Sim", followed by a song composed by his own father, Oswaldo Melodia. My very favorite is 'Dama Ideal' (The Ideal Lady) composed by Alcebíades Nogueira and Arnaldo Passos. "Estação" is filled with great sambas, but it also gets a bonus chorinho: 'Choro de Passarinho (Renato Piau/ Euclides Amaral/ Rubens Cardoso), a duet with Jane Reis, his wife and promoter. To complete the repertoire, Mr. Melodia added two samba classics: 'Contrastes' (Ismael Silva) and 'O Neguinho e a Senhorita' (Noel Rosa de Oliveira/Abelardo Silva).

In this album, Mr. Melodia shows his vision of the samba universe through its most common elements: birds, the ideal woman, the backyard, sadness and redemption. If you enjoy Brazilian music, and especially samba, this album is a must in your music library.

Listen to 'Dama Ideal' right here:

[Credits: Photo by Sergio Fonseca]

Dora Vergueiro

2007-10-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

She's Carlinhos Vergueiro's (a Brazilian composer and singer) daughter. From an early age Dora has spent time with masters of the Brazilian music, such as Adoniran Barbosa, Nelson Cavaquinho, Chico Buarque, Toquinho and João Nogueira.

Dora Vergueiro has taken part in concerts of different renown artists like Ron Carter, Robertinho Silva, Raul de Souza, Vittor Santos, Guilherme Vergueiro, Chico César, Paulinho Moska, among others.

She is also a presenter for the "Rolé" TV show about extreme sports on Sportv channel, besides being a 'sport extremer' herself, check her website, in Portuguese, for photos.

Dora's 2001 album entitled "Pé Na Estrada" filled with 11 songs: "Oh Chuva" (Luís Carlinhos), "Mar Aberto" (Carlinhos Vergueiro), "Estação da Luz" (Alceu Valença), "Eu Vou Cantar"(Pepê Barcellos), "Se Toque" (Zé Natálio/Totonho Villeroy), "Funk Baby" (Seu Jorge) with Seu Jorge, "Pé Na Estrada" (Dora Vergueiro), "Champagne" (Mú Chebabi/ Márcio Lomiranda) and "Arpex"(Rogê/ Phoênix). The album also has a Gilberto Gil song "Vamos Fugir" (Gilberto Gil/Liminha) with a new arrangement.

The album has a dancing "pop-reggae" character, where similarities with surf, sun and sea are not a mere coincidence, they are inspirations she's got from her worldly adventures.

My favorite Dora Vergueiro's song "Daquele Jeito" ("That Way") has just been released and is part of a new album still being produced. To me the songs is pure Rio, the rhythm, the beat, the lyrics...

Check it out here:

Liked the song? You can download the mp3 here.

[MP3 file from legally provided from link on Dora Vergueiro's website]

Five Jorges and one Saint George

2007-10-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Bens did it here in the US- they recorded an album together. In the Southern hemisphere, the Jorges, Jorge Aragão, Jorge Benjor, Jorge Mautner and Jorge Vercilo, also got together recording a song about Saint George, entitled 'Líder dos Templários'. The clip protrays well the faith Brazilian people have in the venerable saint.

Cartola

2007-09-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

This song speaks about Cartola's geniality for itself.

Acontece

Esquece o nosso amor, vê se esquece.
Porque tudo no mundo acontece
E acontece que eu já não sei mais amar.
Vai chorar, vai sofrer, e você não merece,
Mas isso acontece.
Acontece que o meu coração ficou frio
E o nosso ninho de amor está vazio.
Se eu ainda pudesse fingir que te amo,
Ah, se eu pudesse
Mas não quero, não devo fazê-lo,
Isso não acontece.

And my free translation so you can enjoy the 'simplicity of his sophistication'.

It Happens

Forget about our love, try to forget it.
Because things in the world just happens
And it happens that I don't know how to love you any longer.
You're gonna cry, suffer, and you don't deserve it
But it happens.
It happens that my heart got cold
And our love nest is empty.
If I still could pretend that I love you,
Oh, if I could...
But I don't want to, I shouldn't do it,
This won't happen.

And now enjoy the song here:

Djavan @ Last FM

2007-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

I visited a blog this morning, and they had this widget from Last FM, that I decided to post here for it is so cool.
You choose an artist, and the player finds songs of the same genre by other artists and plays the whole song. Of course, they put the link to Amazon for you to buy the album there, and that is how they support the site.

Here it is, just play with it, or go get your own.

Balanço Zona Sul - Glaucia Nasser

2007-09-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

Tito Madi composed this song entitled "Balanço Zona Sul" in the 50's, and it continues so current. Especially when Glaucia Nasser sings it.

For me, the song is just delightful. Tell me what YOU think!

You can download a mp3 of Balanço Zona Sul here. (Right click on link, and select 'save target as' option).

Gilberto Gil - Banda Larga

2007-09-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Banda Larga" ("Broad Band") is the name of Gilberto Gil's new show that has traveled around Europe and Brazil in the past few months.

Banda Larga is also the name of a new song that you can hear right here:

Brasileirinho - The Movie

2007-09-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched a very good documentary about Chorinho entitled "Brasileirinho".

"Brasileirinho is a 90-min musical documentary film about Choro, the first genuinely Brazilian urban music. It was back in the late 19th century in Rio de Janeiro when Brazilian musicians started to blend European melodies, Afro-Brazilian rhythms and the melancholic interpretation of the Brazilian Indians' music to create Choro. Choro is credited as being the first musical expression of Brazil's melting pot and had a prominent place in the development of Brazil's cultural identity. Choro remained a major popular music style until the 1920s, leading directly into Samba and later to Bossa Nova. After a slight decline in popularity, Choro music has made a remarkable comeback over the past few decades.

The film remembers the history but shows, above all, a colorful picture of Choro's vitality today. The guiding line of the film is the combo "Trio Madeira Brasil" composed of three of Brazil's outstanding Choro musicians. During a "Roda de Choro", a traditional Brazilian kind of private jam session, the Trio brings up a concert project. During these sessions or at their homes, some of the most interesting Choro musicians play and remember key events in the history of this Brazilian urban music. A look into a Choro workshop with over 450 participants of all ages illustrates the off-hand genuine Brazilian way to play. "Playing" interviews with well-known Samba and Bossa Nova artists like Zezé Gonzaga, Elza Soares and Guinga illustrate the reciprocal inspiration with Samba and Bossa Nova music. A final show of the "Trio Madeira Brasil" with their guests in one of Rio's traditional music halls show once more the opulence of rhythms and melodies in Choro that has evolved over the past 130 years into a fascinating form of modern tropical sound".(As described on the movie website).

If you enjoy Brazilian music, you've got to check out this documentary.
Here is a clip of the movie with Yamandu Costa playing Ernesto Nazareth's Brejeiro'.

Genuinely Brazilian - Rodrigo Maranhão

2007-09-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Rodrigo Maranhão, a musician from Rio de Janeiro, has been acknowledged in the past few years as a new and competent talent in the Brazilian music environment. Rodrigo is a member of a group known as Bangalafumenga, which has two albums released. Bangalafumenga is also a social project that invites people from different walks of life to learn a musical instrument in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Rodrigo Maranhão's first solo album,'Bordado'('Stitchery') has been released recently. The album is totally acoustic, filled with songs that takes you through a musical tour of Brazil.

The album was produced by Rodrigo and Paulo Brandao, the bass player for the band. The band also counts with Marcelo Caldi playing acordeon, Marcello Gonçalves in the viola and guitar, as well as Ely Werneck and Sidon Silva playing percussion.

'Bordado' counts with already popular songs such as 'Caminho das Aguas', 'Recado' and 'Mantra' previously recorded by Maria Rita in her album 'Segundo'.

I have listened to Rodrigo's songs on MPB FM and You Tube. I've been searching the internet to buy the album on MP3 format, but so far had no luck. Amazon has the CD.

My favorite song is 'Caminho das Aguas'. I just love the Northeastern character of the song - especially the acordeon and percussion. See what you think...

Luciana Mello

2007-08-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Luciana Mello began her musical training early in life, taking voice and dance lessons. As a child, she sang in choirs and later performed in musicals. She emerged on the Brazilian pop music scene as a participant in the Artistas Reunidos (Reunited Artists) project, and issued her first solo CD, Assim Que Se Faz, in 2001.

Mello's father is prominent Brazilian musician and singer Jair Rodrigues. Her brother, Jair Oliveira, is also an influential producer of modern Brazilian pop music and is a singer/songwriter in his own right.

Luciana has a new album out entitled "Na Veia da Nega" (literally, it could be translated as "In the Black Woman's Vein"). In my opinion, this is by far her best work. The song that gives the album's name was composed by Luciana and is simply delightful - a soul dancing beat mixed with rap, sounds impossible but it actually works great!

Listen to "A Veia da Nega".

Check out samples of her other songs here by entering Luciana Mello's site and clicking on 'Discografia'.

[Reference site: http://www.wikipedia.org/]

Vanessa da Mata

2007-07-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

The internet is really an amazing tool. It allows incredible things to happen.

Vanessa da Mata, a young Brazilian singer and composer, recently wrote a song entitled 'Boa Sorte' (Good Luck), and sent the song to Ben Harper in L.A along with a literal translation of the lyrics.

Without knowing who she was, Ben checked out the song, liked it, made an English version, and recorded it.
Vanessa already had the song recorded in Portuguese. Next step? The two versions were put together, and the outcome is, in my opinion, just perfect!
After the song was released, Vanessa traveled to L.A to meet Ben Harper.

Check it out:

Vanessa da Mata's new album, the second of her career is entitled "Sim" (Yes). She plays with Brazilian music icons, such as Joao Donato, Wilson das Neves, and Davi Moraes. All the songs in the album are Vanessa's, they are upbeat, and I think you will like it. My favorite is "Quando um Homem tem uma Mangueira no Quintal"(When a man has a mango tree in the backyard). You can get a taste of the songs on "Sim"right here.

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!

2007-07-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

November is looking like an awesome month for Brazilian music lovers.

The Bay area is hosting Gal Costa, Céu and Caetano Veloso.

It couldn't get better than this!

Hope to see you there.

NOVEMBER 2007

1 Nov
8 pm
Gal Costa
Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Berkeley, Berkeley
Beloved MPB diva returns to the Bay Area.

Saturday, November 17
8 pm
Caetano Veloso
Masonic Center

7 Feb
8 pm
"Brazilian Guitar Festival" with Sergio Assad, Badi Assad, Adair Assad, Romero Lubambo, and Celso Machado
Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Berkeley, Berkeley
Three of the Assad family of musicians plus Romero Lubambo and multi-instrumentalist Machado promise a heady evening of guitar.

Chorinho

2007-04-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

Today, April 23, is Pixinguinha's birthday. He would be 110 years old today. In Brazil, today is the "National Day of Choro".

Pixinguinha was the father of 'chorinho', a Brazilian music style from the beginning of 19th century Rio de Janeiro. Originally choro was played by a trio of flute, guitar and cavaquinho (a small chordophone with four strings).

Among Pixinguinha's famous songs are 'Carinhoso' and 'Um a Zero'.
'Carinhoso' is considered the most beloved song within Brazil. Anyone, doesn't matter of what age, can sing it.

Here is Marisa Monte and Paulinho da Viola singing 'Carinhoso'

And master Pixinguinha playing Carinhoso. A real jewel!

Paulinho Moska

2007-04-14T16:21:00.001-07:00

The Last Day
(Paulinho Moska / Billy Brandão) Sony Music / Billy Brandão

My love
What would you do if this was your last day?
If the world was about to be over
Tell me, what would you do?

Would you keep up with your agenda?
For lunch, appointment, apathy?

Or wait for your friends
in an empty living room?

Would you run to a mall
or to the gym?
To forget that there's no time
to waisted time?

Would your walk naked in the rain?
Run to the middle of the street?
Get in the ocean with clothes on?
Have sex without a condom?

Would you open the door to a Psychiatric ward?
Lock the police department one?
Blow up my car?

I am addicted to listening to MPB FM while I work. I like paying attention to the lyrics of songs they play, and learn about the people that are creating the new MPB.
Lately, I noticed this guy, who I was not familiar with, singing songs with lyrics that reflect life out there, just the way it is. Came to find out that his name is Paulinho Moska.

Paulinho was born in 1967 in Rio. He started his music career in 1993 with an album entitled 'Vontade'. His career has been diverse involving theater, vocal experiments, and philosophy. This melange reflects in his most recent album 'Tudo Novo de Novo' (Everything New Again').

Quoting Keef Schoof from MusicaBrasileira.org "On Tudo Novo de Novo, Paulinho plays with Marcos Suzano, one of Brazil's most melodic percussionists. He has the rare talent to choose the right percussion instrument to accomplish a natural interaction with the other instruments, whether those are acoustic or electric. Sacha Amback is without any doubt among the most tasteful keyboardists. Besides being a wonderful pianist, he uses electronics in such a way that it never disturbs, but on the contrary adds to the sentiment of a song. His arrangements are always a delight. In the quartet, Dunga has the opportunity to use his rich experience as a bassist. He's the important "glue" between the different segments, laying bridges and supporting melody lines in the most perfect way. And of course, Paulinho Moska is the fourth member of the quartet, as singer/guitarist.

Most of the songs on the album are written by him. That's also where the cd got its title from "Everything new again." The sources of inspiration for the compositions were the pictures that feature the cd's booklet. A new way to compose music for Moska. He took those photos with his brand new digital camera, focusing on his own reflection in various chromed bathroom objects. Paulinho took some 2,500 of those (soon to be the subject of a book...). These self-portraits are linked to the autobiographic lyrics of the songs. There are quite a few fabulous songs on the cd. The three closing songs are true gems. "Impacto" is an example of the perfect balance between the instruments. The acoustic guitar dominates while simple sound effects set the emotion. The cries from a cuíca accentuate that emotion in a melancholic way. Mart'nália is guest vocalist on "Acordando," a relaxed samba. Samba might well be featured on Moska's next album, since it caught his attention as a composer. The album's closing song is a duet with Jorge Drexler. The composer/singer/guitarist from Uruguay (Montevideo, 1964) makes a wonderful appearance on his own written "Dos Colores: Blanco y Negro." Another very pleasant track is "Essa é a Última Solidão de Sua Vida," co-written with Pedro Luís, Mart'nália and Thalma de Freitas. Written by friends, and that's how it sounds too; the song reflects the personalities of its composers. "O Bilhete no Fim" has a funky upbeat tempo, soft percussion and nice organ. The music of Jorge Drexler is featured again with a portuguese version of "La Edad del Cielo," a beautiful ballad with a jazzy guitar, played by producer of the album Nilo Romero".

Paulinho Moska

2007-04-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Rita Ribeiro

2007-04-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Macumba is an Afro-Brazilian religion, common in many parts of Brazil. In some regions, notably Rio de Janeiro, it is closely akin, if not identical, to Candomblé. However, Macumba is also a distinct cult, more akin to European witchcraft.

I was introduced to Rita Ribeiro recently through an album entitled 'TecnoMacumba', where Rita sings traditional songs of African-Brazilian religions to a techno beat. The result is interesting and intriguing. Rita's voice, and her sweet Maranhense(from Maranhao State in the North of Brazil) accent, makes the union of these two diverse styles not only possible, but passionate and pleasant.

It's definitely worth checking Rita Ribeiro out.

Get a taste of the 'TecnoMacumba tunes here.

Céu

2007-04-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Maria do Ceu, 24, is a new name in the Brazilian music scene. She has one album released entitled 'Ceu' (2005).

Her voice is velvety; it is enchanting and poetic. Her music is not predictable, leaves that sensation of sunshine after a big storm.

Ceu has a style of her own, mixing Brazilian urban and Afro-Brazilian music. She is able to create an environment where hip hop, jazz and Brazilian music get together, where electronic tunes are transformed into regional rhythms.

Her album 'Ceu' has an electracoustic tone, set by Beto Villares, her producer. Beto is also responsible for the elegant and minimalist character of her work.

Ceu will be at the SF Jazz in November/2007. Don't miss it!

3 Nov
8 pm
Céu
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon, SF
$25-58
SFJAZZ

See Ceu singing Malemolência...

Seu Jorge

2007-03-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

-- When I first heard Seu Jorge’s renditions of my work, I was startled by the simplicity and candour of his performances. With nothing more than a classical guitar and a heavily accented voice, Jorge has taken my compositions and quite literally made them his own….David Bowie --

As a singer, Seu Jorge ("Mr. George") was part of the band Farofa Carioca, composing most of the songs of their debut album Moro no Brasil - 1998 and has released two albums. In 2001 he released Samba Esporte Fino, a pop album influenced by the likes of Jorge Ben Jor, Gilberto Gil, and Milton Nascimento. It was released outside Brazil under the name Carolina in 2003. His second album, the critically acclaimed Cru ("Raw"), was released in 2005.

Seu Jorge has gained exposure through his work as an actor and soundtrack composer. He appeared in the critically acclaimed film City of God as Mané Galinha, and then played Pelé Dos Santos in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, for which he provided much of the soundtrack in the form of Portuguese language cover versions of David Bowie classics.

Watch Seu Jorge singing "Changes"in Portuguese.

Seu Jorge is returning to tour the U.S. this summer (2007). He'll play Webster Hall in NYC on June 25th. According to Wikipedia, "his new album 'Brasil America' is due to be released this year."

Seu Jorge - Tour Dates
Thu 06/21/07 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Fri 06/22/07 Vienna, VA Filene Center At Wolf Trap *
Sat 06/23/07 Charlottesville, VA Starr Hill
Sun 06/24/07 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
Mon 06/25/07 New York, NY Webster Hall
Tue 06/26/07 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club / Lounge
Thu 06/28/07 Toronto, ON Massey Hall *
Wed 07/04/07 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Thu 07/05/07 Seattle, WA The Showbox
Sun 07/08/07 Bend, OR Les Schwab Amphitheater
Thu 07/12/07 San Francisco, CA Bimbo's 365 Club (tix)
Fri 07/13/07 San Francisco, CA Bimbo's 365 Club (tix)
Sun 07/15/07 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

Gilberto Gil -- Don't miss your plane! Don't miss Gil's US Tour

2007-03-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I saw an amazing Gilberto Gil concert at the Maritime Hall in San Francisco. Gil played with his band, the music was incredible, the house energy flaming. One of those concerts that you just can't stand still. And we didn't.

My husband and I were flighting to Europe the next morning, for some reason our alarm clock didn't go off, and, oops, we almost missed our plane. No wonder, one could expect that after a full night of Gil.

So, considering that you have a reliable alarm clock, and you are in the Davis/Sacramento (California) on March 28th, I strongly recommend Gil's concert at the Mondavi, or any of these concert Halls listed below:

March 15th 2007 - Toronto, Canada
Massey Hall

March 16th 2007 - Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan - Hill Auditorium

March 18th 2007 - Washington, DC
GW Lisner Auditorium

March 20th 2007 - New York, NY
Carnegie Hall

March 21st 2007 - New Bedford, MA
Zeiterion Theatre

March 24th 2007 - Los Angeles, CA
Royce Hall
UCLA

March 25th 2007 - Berkeley, CA
Zellerbach Auditorium
UC Berkeley

March 27th 2007 - Davis, CA
Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
UC Davis

March 28th 2007 - Redwood City, CA
Fox Theatre

March 30th 2007 - Miami, FL
Miami Performing Arts Center

March 31st 2007 - Tampa, FL
Ferguson Theatre
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

A Brazilian Legend

The inimitable Gil has had one of the most relevant and renowned careers in world and pop music. He has recorded 50 albums — including 12 gold and five platinum records —which have sold more than five million copies, earning him seven Grammy Awards, including one in 2005 for "Eletracustico." Gil wrote the 15 songs on "Gil Luminoso" over a span of some 25 years, but they all possess a common spiritual character and reveal some of the deepest philosophical facets of his art, a quality enhanced by the solo performance. The album, recorded in 1999, was released in Brazil in 2006 as a companion to Bené Fonteles' book "GiLuminoso: a po.Ética do Ser." Gil's prolific catalog has been recorded by such artists as João Gilberto, Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Sérgio Mendes, Ernie Watts and Toots Thielemans.

Over the years, Gil's social, political and environmental activism has gained prominence alongside his music. Gil was a spokesman for Brazil's black consciousness movement in the 1970s and '80s, working with Jamaican reggae star Jimmy Cliff and covering Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry," which climbed to No. 1 in Brazil and sold 700,000 copies. In the early '90s, Gil found widespread support for his political beliefs and was elected to the city council in Salvador, his hometown. In 2002, Brazil's newly elected President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva appointed Gil minister of culture, with a key role in the modernization of Brazilian culture.

Salvador, the capital of Bahia state, and its rich and powerful traditions have had a deep influence on Gil's art and philosophy. One of the oldest cities in Brazil, Salvador is the center of Afro-Brazilian culture, nurturing candomblé religious practice, capoeira martial arts and Afro-based musical styles. Gil joined his first group, the Desafinados, in the mid-1950s and studied business administration at Salvador's Federal University. When he first heard João Gilberto on the radio, Gil immediately bought a guitar and learned to play bossa nova. Known mostly as a guitarist, he also holds his own with drums, trumpet and accordion, inspired by Salvador's street musicians. He spent the early 1960s composing songs for TV ads and joined Nos Por Exemplo, a showcase featuring bossa nova and traditional Brazilian songs, directed by Caetano Veloso. In 1965, he moved to São Paulo and had his first hit when singer Elis Regina recorded his "Louvação." Gil made his first self-titled recording in 1966, and his first hit single was 1969's "Aquele Abraço."

As a leader of the Tropicália movement in 1967–68 along with Veloso and Gal Costa, he helped opened up Brazilian folk music to other influences and later secured his fame internationally. Gil says he was "inspired to try to bring rock 'n 'roll elements into Brazilian music, as well as the experiments of Stockhausen and the avant-garde, and use open speech to talk about society, politics and the source of life itself." But his own left-wing community, as Gil describes it, "reacted negatively. Electric guitars were considered imperialist, and there was this idea that Brazilian music should be kept pure. But Brazil has never been pure."

When the country's military dictatorship took over in 1964, this openness and the accompanying air of resistance was an anathema. While the government tightened its power, Tropicália enjoyed its own short-lived television show, "Divine, Marvelous." On the Christmas edition, Veloso held a gun to his head while singing a traditional song. This coincided with the passing of International Act No. 5, which eroded basic human rights and made torture routine. At 3 a.m., after the show, Veloso and Gil were arrested and taken to solitary cells in Rio de Janeiro. "In the end they gave us lots of ridiculous reasons for putting us in jail," said Gil, "like 'You work for the communists, you want to destroy our youth' ... The real reason was: 'You are too enigmatic and we can't understand you, so it's better that you are in jail.' " Prison was followed by four months under curfew in Salvador. When Gil asked the colonel in charge for a solution, he was told to leave Brazil.

On July 5, 1969, Veloso and Gil arrived in London and spent nearly three years in exile, working with artists such as Pink Floyd, Yes, the Incredible String Band and Rod Stewart. When Gil returned to Brazil in 1972, the experience spurred two hit singles ("Back in Bahia" and "Oriente") and led to recording sessions with Jorge Ben Jor and tours with Veloso, Gal Costa and Maria Bethânia. Gil recorded many albums for Brazilian companies and forged an international deal with the WEA group of labels in 1977. In the U.S. in 1978, he toured colleges and later played jazz clubs in New York City and Los Angeles. In 1982, he had a huge crossover hit with his song "Palco." He continues to make recordings that cement his place in the musical world.

[source: UCLA News]

Milton Nascimento

2007-03-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

Milton Nascimento (born 26 October 1942) is a singer-songwriter who is considered one of the icons of Brazilian Music.

Nascimento was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His mother was the maid Maria do Carmo Nascimento. When he was just a few months old, the boy was adopted by the family for whom his mother had previously worked: the couple Josino Brito Campos (a banker, mathematics teacher and electronic technician) and Lília Silva Campos (a music teacher). He lived in the boroughs of Laranjeiras and Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro. When he was 18 months old, his biological mother died and he moved with his adoptive parents to the city of Três Pontas, in the State of Minas Gerais.

In the earlier stages of his career, Nascimento played in two samba groups, Evolussamba and Sambacana. In 1963 he moved to Belo Horizonte, and his friendship with the Borges brothers led to the Clube da Esquina ("corner club") movement. Other members included Beto Guedes, Toninho Horta, Wagner Tiso, and Flávio Venturini.

Nascimento is famous for his chime-clear falsetto and tonal range, as well for highly acclaimed songs such as "Canção da América" (Song from America) and "Coração de Estudante" (Student's Heart). The lyrics of "Coração de Estudante" remembers the funeral of the student Edson Luís, killed by police officers in 1968. The song became the hymn for the diretas Já campaign in 1984 and it was also played in the funeral of the late president Tancredo Neves the next year, who died before assuming the presidency.

While his reputation within Brazil was firmly established with his Clube da Esquina works, Nascimento's international breakthrough came with his appearance on jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter's 1974 album Native Dancer. This led to widespread acclaim, and collaborations with American stars such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Pat Metheny.

Through his friendship with guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, Nascimento came to work with the pop-rock band Duran Duran in 1993. Nascimento co-wrote and performed (in the Portuguese language) the song "Breath After Breath", featured on the band's 1993 album Duran Duran. He also performed with the band in concert when they toured in Brazil, in support of that album.

Nascimento earned a Grammy award for "Best World Music Album" in 1998 for his album "Nascimento", and was also nominated in 1991 and 1995.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Watch Milton and Paul Simon singing "Vendedor de Sonhos" ("Travel Merchant"). Amazingly beautiful!

Caipirinha Appreciation Society

2007-03-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

A jewel: a Brazilian music podcast produced for London’s SOUND RADIO and shared with the rest of the world via the internet, the CAIPIRINHA APPRECIATION SOCIETY SHOW (C.A.S.) gives its listeners a chance to relish on 2 hours of wonderfully under-exposed Brazilian grooves.

Check out the last 3 programs, a series about Brazilian carnival, not to be missed!

You can grab the podcasts from iTunes, it's free.

Caipirinha Appreciation Society
cas

Genre: Music

Mariana Aydar

2007-03-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy Marcelo Camelo's lyrics. Sometime ago, while listening to MPB FM at home, I noticed that there was a new interpreter singing his song "Deixa o Verão". Came to find out that her name was Mariana Aydar.

Fastforward...

I spend 30 days in Brazil during January/February. I was visiting a friend in Sao Paulo, who lives really close to SESC Pompeia, a cool cultural center that offers many activities during the day, and concerts at night. While checking the events board, I saw that the artist featured that night was Mariana, and more, the concert was free.

Sure enough, my husband and I made it to the concert, and it was just great. An energetic concert where she played songs of her recently released album - Kavita 1. Mariana showed the crowed in the house how to gracefully move her voice from samba rhythms to classic songs, from forro music to contemporary sounds.

I bought her album after the concert, and the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it!
Definitely worth checking this new star out.

Here is a clip of Mariana singing "Deixa o Verao"...

Caetano Veloso has new album - Ce

2006-11-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

We learn over time to neglect our greatest living artists. Caught up in crushes and burgeoning lusts, we forget the ruddy glow of the hearth, the irreplaceable comfort that long-term companionship (wedlock?) with one artist can engender. They, en riposte, learn to neglect us just as much-to become as sparing with their gifts as we are with our reverence.

The story of Caetano Veloso is a familiar one: he went from political firebrand and exile in his youth to a Dylanesque figure of confrontation and rebellion, eventually maturing into a fully-realized artist delving into jazz, pop, and pan-ethnic sounds, and finally coming to dwell as a sort of musical demigod, comfortable and resigned to an art of re-interpreting his own classics and those of other cultures. Somewhere along the way, Veloso drifted from being a touchstone for young rebels to the kind of ossified, gentrified figure that they in turn strive against.

Cê is Caetano Veloso's 40th album-and the first in many years to make the hairs on the back of one's neck stand up. It's impossible to say whether it's his recent breakup with Paula Lavigne, the presence of his son Moreno (himself a quite successful musician), or some other undetermined factor, but there's a thrilling looseness and economy here that has been absent from much of Veloso's years with Elektra Nonesuch. His last effort, A Foreign Sound, had its moments, but displayed the kind of mannered treatments that one could expect from an artist who rarely sings in English confronting some of the hallowed classics of the American Songbook.

Still using that generously soothing voice to great effect, Veloso shrugs off his tendency of late to constantly play the smoothie on Ce's eleven originals. When he gifts us with his uncannily warm tone, you sense it's because he wants to - and for the majority of the album, he's playing with his voice in ways he'd seemingly all but forgotten. It’s something perhaps inspired by the tacit tribute that the album pays to Dylan, himself perpetually unafraid to stretch his own meager vocal gifts. The difference being that when Veloso cackles, undulates, or wails, it actually sounds pretty damn good.

The material here is spartan -"Waly Salomao" is little more than a constantly - writhing guitar and a lazy backbeat, with Caetano doing his best Tim Buckley over top. Opener "Outro" employs distortion and a skiffling beat, before dropping into the most somber and gorgeously aquatic of his songs here, "Minhas Lagrimas." Other tracks, such as "Homem" or "Odeio" play with the basic hip-swing of rock n' roll, but in a mesmerizing fashion that owes as much to the bossa nova as to Chuck Berry. More overt jazz structures are employed on "Nao Me Arrependo," a stunning showcase for one of Veloso's most yearning vocals, and closer "O Heroi" approaches the early Tom Ze sides in beatnik chic - a sassy, spoken- word employed over tense, stringent coffee-shop funk. Then Caetano shifts: first to the succulent tones that have endeared him to Americans who don't know their Portugese from their Pig Latin, next into a scraping, throaty scalpel-sharp wail that might be some long-lost Dervish chant-held, sustained, and then-boom. The record ends, and we're left relearning the same sense of wonder that first drew us to Transa, or songs like "Terra," or his early experiments with Gilberto Gil and Os Mutantes.

Whether this newfound fire is but a random spark or the reemergence of the spirit of his daring early work, only time will tell. But for now even the possibility that one of the greatest living composers and performers - not just of Brazilian music, but of our time - may be returning from the sea of familiarity to pilot us once more towards unknown waters is the best news we've had in a long, long while.

You can listen to the songs in this album here.

[re-post fromSTYLUSMAGAZINE.COM ]

Gabriel Moura

2006-09-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to Gabriel Moura for the past few weeks. I was introduced to him through the song "E bom andar a pe", one of those songs so pleasant to listen that follows you all day playing quietly in your mind.
I went on investigating who the artist is, and found out lots of interesting things:Gabriel has just released his first album -- Brasis, which, unfortunately, is not available in the US, not even throgh ITunes, what's up with that??
Gabriel was a member of the group 'Farofa Carioca' along with Seu Jorge and others. Farofa created the sound track of a documentary about the origns and history of the Brazilian Music, directed by Mika Kaurismäki, and entitled 'Moro no Brasi' (I live in Brazil).

Here is a small clip about Gabriel, in Portuguese, but a chance to learn a little bit about the artist.

Chico Cesar

2006-08-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Chico César is a Brazilian popular musician, born in Catolé do Rocha (Paraíba) in northeastern Brazil on jan 26, 1964. In recent years, he has emerged as one of Brazil's leading songwriters and social critics, taking up the mantle of women's rights, the homeless, and countless other causes in his compositions and music videos. His characteristic style fuses rhythms from the northeast of Brazil like Forró, Baiao, Xote and reggae and funk, with lyrics that blend humor with social commentary.
[source: wikepedia]

Take a look at a short video of Chico and Ana Carolina (artist to be featured in this blog):

Lenine

2006-08-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Born and raised in Recife (capital of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil), Lenine specially enjoyed listening to rock all through his teens, until he discovered the album "Clube da Esquina", by Milton Nascimento, and saw Gilberto Gil performing. As he turned 18, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, to compete in a music festival. In 1982, Lenine released his first LP, "Baque Solto", with partner Lula Queiroga. The second record, "Olho de Peixe", only came out ten years later, though, this time with percussionist Marcos Suzano. The album fomented his importance among Brazilian musicians who would promote the genre in the 90s by merging it with pop music. Lenine’s first solo record, "O Dia em que Faremos Contato", came out in 1997, featuring a pop structure for his mix of electronica, northeastern rhythms and samba. Two years later, he released "Na Pressão". Lenine has been touring non-stop and has had songs recorded by acclaimed artists in Brazil.

And here is an article about Lenine published in the NYT this week:

Lenine at Joe's Pub: A Playful and Pointed Brazilian in New York

By BEN RATLIFF

Nearly everyone in popular music makes records and performs live, but at bottom they tend to pull one way or the other. The true record-makers turn out buffed, armored products; when they go onstage, you see a blocked and choreographed show. Hard-core performers are naturalists who make disappointing albums, but onstage become nearly transparent: their physical bodies become subordinate to the music inside their heads.

Brazil has produced a few musician-singers who can be both things at once. Since the mid-1960's Gilberto Gil has been one. And Lenine (pronounced Leh-NEE-nee), a singer and songwriter whose work descends partly from Mr. Gil's, is another. American audiences might place his music midway between that of Ani DiFranco and that of Rage Against the Machine: pointed songs, semipolitical, playful with language and aggressive with rhythm. But the music also carries the marks of Recife, his home city, in the Brazilian northeast.

In his songs there are glimpses of embolada, the fast, rap-like tradition from that area, and maracatu, one of the region's West African-derived rhythms. On Tuesday Lenine played at Joe's Pub, and it was a rare visit. Well known in Brazil since the mid-1990's, he has only now released an album in North America, and so only now has reason to show up as a solo artist on our stages. (The album is called "Lenine"Â a best-of disc from Six Degrees Records, culled from his three Brazilian studio albums since 1997.) He came backed by a three-piece band drilled in the cropped, swinging, interlocking rhythms of the songs, the reggae-like grooves and the ambient sprays of electric guitar.

Sometimes the band played over electronic rhythm tracks, or over sound samples Lenine has used on his studio albums: a rusty door-hinge on "A Rede" a bit of old recorded music in "Jack Soul Brasileiro." It was an impressive show, and still too canned by half.

If anyone could have slain an audience with just guitar and voice -- and maybe one other musician, playing hand percussion -- it is Lenine. Like Mr. Gil, he performs at full strength and full articulation: strumming an electrified acoustic guitar in choppy rhythms, which stressed upbeats, he sang phrases so hard his face reddened, then backed away slowly at the end of a phrase, his voice fading. He never slurred words, unless in service to the rhythm. He is the professional with integrity, the kind of guy who will prevail in the long haul. Though he sang about alienation, science-fiction movies and the voices in his head, he didn't carry the abstracted air of a North American who might be singing about the same things.

That's because when Lenine sang about alienation, he rooted those perceptions in Brazilian cultural realities. Like a handful of the other great modern Brazilian songwriters, Lenine subscribes to the ideal of syncretic realism, that pop songs can deal with high-tech industry and mud huts, the futuristic and the ancient, in the same stanza. He acted as a full participant in his songs, not a freaked-out bystander. Not all the songs were as good as "A Rede," "Jack Soul Brasileiro" or "Que Baque e Esse?"

Lenine's records contain many similar-sounding rhythmic songs without quite enough action in the melody. And as good as his band was -- particularly Junior Tolstoi on guitar, who manipulated it into attacking chords or washes of sound -- it never breathed as much as you wanted it to. So the band sounded trapped inside the rhetoric of recorded sound, while Lenine himself projected naturally, someone born to communicate one to one.

Fabio Tagliaferri

2006-07-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

Fabio Tagliaferri is an extraordinary musician from Sao Paulo. He plays the Viola, an instrument a little bigger than the violin, and with a deeper sound.

Fabio has released two albums: "Viola" and "So Um e Muito So" (One is too Lonely).

On "Viola", Fabio plays different Brazilian music styles including chorinho, baião, salsa, balada and valsa. The listener will also come accross some music composed by Mr. tagliaferri, such as 'Sabrina', and 'Pela Manha' in the voice of the Portuguese singer Eugenia Melo e Castro. The song entitled 'Terra Estrangeira' (Foreign Land), composed by Jose Miguel Wisnik with arrangements by Swami Jr., was part of the sound track of the movie that received the same name.

On the he album "So Um e Muito So" (One is too Lonely) Fabio teamed up with great names of the Brazilian music such as Luiz Tatit, Manu Lafer, Tiago Torres, Paulinho Moska, Inacio Zatz and Arnaldo Antunes to compose magnificent songs interpreted by Arnaldo Antunes, Jeanne de Castro, Luiz Tatit,Marcia Lopes, Monica Salmaso, Na Ozetti, Paulinho Moska, Rodrigo Rodrigues and Virginia Rosa.

Lots of names packed in one CD providing you the possibility of tasting a little bit of the best in the Brazilian contemporary music. Click here to listen to fragments of songs in this album.

As for my personal take on this: I am a proud friend of Fabio!

Hope you enjoy his music!

Miscelanea Vanguardiosa

2006-07-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

Continuing with some more podcasts. New web finding for those who like instrumental music.
Miscelanea Vanguardiosa is a website where you can download podcasts showcasing Brazilian instrumental music. You can find a list of podcasts highlighting names such as Hermeto Paschoal, Monica Salmaso, Luciana Souza, Jovino Santos, just to name a few. The narration is in Portuguese, but it doesn't matter because the music will speak louder to you than any comments they may have to add. So stop by, download a few shows, and see what you think. It's all free!

Gilles Peterson in Brazil

2006-07-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

Last week, my family and I took a long drive to Southern California. Before leaving I searched ITunes for some interesting podcast to listen during our 8 hour journey. I came accross this podcast entitled "Gilles Peterson in Brazil". I downloaded, and, what a nice suprise! Gilles, a dj/music producer from England visits many brazilian music genres, interviewing a variety of artists that weaved together what is known as MPB (Brazilian Popular Music).

If you enjoy Brazilian music, most likely you will love his podcasts. You can download them (free) right here.

After listening to every episode of the series, I was curious to find out more about Gilles Peterson, and here is what I came accross:

Gilles Peterson is an influential DJ and record-label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud he has been associated with the careers of countless well-known artists of the 1990s. He is also well known as a radio DJ: he used to have a radio show on London's Kiss FM dance music station, but was recruited to the BBC's youth-oriented Radio 1 in 1998. Peterson is known for his eclectic musical selections. Though not as "anything goes" as the late John Peel, he plays anything from dub and reggae through jazz, nu-jazz, soul, neo soul, R&B to drum and bass, house, broken beat, hip-hop and Jazz-funk.

(source: wikipedia)

DJ Ze Pedro - Dance Music

2006-06-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

If you like Brazilian music, and enjoy dancing, this is probably for you. DJ Pedro has remixed Brazilian classics to a beat that makes it impossible to stand still. It has a 'disco' appeal'.
Ze Pedro has a radio show on Saturday nights on MPB FM, where he interviews singers while playing his newest remix. Check it out: it's free, all you need is Windows Media Player.

Pedro has an album out entitled 'Musica para dancar', and you can get a taste of the songs clicking on the link. If you like the songs, you will most likely enjoy the albums below too.

Happy Dancing to you!

Lo Borges

2006-06-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Lo Borges, member of the Clube da Esquina, is a composer of several hits like "Um Girassol Da Cor Do Seu Cabelo" and "Paisagem Da Janela," recorded by Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta, and other top artists.

Raised in Belo Horizonte, Borges was a childhood friend of the other soon-to-be famous members of the Clube da Esquina, like Milton Nascimento, Wagner Tiso, Toninho Horta, and others. At 19 he participated in Nascimento's Clube da Esquina LP, sharing the composition of the title track. He also wrote, from that album, "O Trem Azul," "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser," and "Nuvem Cigana." In 1973, he released his first solo album, Lo Borges, followed by A Via Lactea (1979) and Os Borges (1980). Nascimento's Clube da Esquina 2 (1978) brought Borges' "Ruas da Cidade" and "Pao e Agua." He also recorded Nuvem Cigana (1982), Sonho Real (1984), Solo (1987), and Meu Filme (1996).

Paulinho da Viola

2006-06-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

Paulinho da Viola is a musician who stands for a particular realm in Brazilian culture. Experiencing his music is to realize the presence of a new dimension, to feel identified with it and becoming aware of the fact that Brazilian cultural identity is never homogeneous: there is always something special in each of its expressions.

To try Paulinho da Viola's music is to find a link that some people judged to be lost. A fruit of encounters and amalgamations, his work comes from an uncommon event: the interaction of two cultural phenomena seen as antagonistic. The aesthetics and sophistication of the middle class living in the southern area of Rio de Janeiro in the 50's and 60's, along with the vibration of the carioca suburbs, resulted in a new form that crosses the times without altering his essence and embraces the modernity. This work immediately involves us with the ability to make the concern about the chronological aspect of events. In Paulinho's work, there is no beginning, middle or end. There is an essence defined by the meeting of sounds that harmoniously combine, creating unique forms and contents.

Paulinho composes sambas, choros and experimental music. The samba is the main and maternal form of the artist. The choro is the form inherited from his father, a sophisticated instrumental style, almost classic. The experimentation appeared as an answer to the desire of expressing a yearning to search for new forms, a common trace of the artist and his generation.

[Source: Paulinho da Viola Website]

Visit Paulinho's website to get a taste of his music. On the link 'Radio through time' you can listen to various songs of the different stages of his career.

Chico Buarque de Holanda - new album after 8 years

2006-05-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

After 8 years Chico Buarque is back with a new album that is a tribute to Rio, mentions Sao Paulo, and plays with a northeastern Brazilian style of rap.

Chico's last album was 'As Cidades' (BMG) in 1998. He is back composing after devoting many years to literature. The album entitled 'Carioca' was released by the record company Biscoito Fino. Chico presents 9 new songs out of 12 in the album. Two of these songs are raps, which the composer defines as the "newest gig in the Brazilian music scene in the past years".

In ''Carioca, Chico exposes the many faces of Rio: a suburban Rio in the song 'Suburbio' (Suburb), the first song in the album; a cinematographic Rio in the song 'Sempre' (Always) composed for the new Caca Diegues movie ' O maior amor do mundo'. The focus of the album is undoubtedly Rio, however, at different moments, he praises the geography of Sao Paulo, although he called it 'abominable' in the past.

Among the songs in the album take note of 'Imagina', composed by Chico and Jobim, in the voices of Chico and Monica Salmaso, a new and talented MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) singer. Also a 'rap-baiao' entitled 'Ode aos Ratos', where Chico performs with percussionist Marcos Suzano.

Pedro Luis e a Parede - PLAP

2006-05-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

What is PLAP ?

The group's first performance took place in 1996 in Rio. At the time, the group didn't have a name. Pedro Luis, Mario Moura, Sidon Silva, C.A. Ferrari and Celso Alvim are the creators of Pedro Luís e a Parede. The name came up because at a certain point in the concert all the members aligned themselves forming a human wall. From that point on there was no more choice, the name had been chosen: Pedro Luis e a Parede (Pedro Luis and the wall)

A year later, their first album was released: Astronauta Tupy. Tom Capone was the producer and distribution was done by Dubas/Warner. Songs, such as Pena de Vida e Caio no Suingue, soon became popular along Rio. Fernanda Abreu, Arícia Mess and Suely Mesquita are always performing with PLAP. Lenine, Ney Matogrosso and grupo Boato have also performed with them.

In 1999, they released their second album: E Tudo 1 Rea (It is all 1 Real). Tom Capone got in as the artistic director and Liminha as the producer along with PLAP. PLAP has created a space for different musicians to play with him, but one of them is especially interesting; the Japonese singer Miyazawa Kazufumi, who has a taste for Brazilian music, composed the song Brasileiro em Toquio (Brazilian in Tokyo).

Zona e Progresso (Mass and Progress) is their third album, and we can definitely notice how PLAP has evolved, Various singers joined the group to perform different songs. We find names such as Lula Queiroga, Felipe Falcão, Lucky Luciano, Suely Mesquita, Arícia Mess, Cabelo, Carlos Negreiros, Eduardo Krieger and even Wando.

PLAP is always active, involved in world tours and workshops. Pedro Luis has been acknowledged as one of the best composers during the 90’s. His songs were performed by Ney Matogrosso, Lenine, O Rappa, Adriana Maciel and Fernanda Abreu, among others.

During a percussion workshop in Sao Paulo, they came up with the idea of forming another band: Monobloco. Monobloco is an active part of Rio’s carnival and has been participating in it since 2001.

Pedro Luis e a Parede is ...

Pedro Luis - voice and batucada
Sidon Silva - batucada and back vocal
Mario Moura - batucada and back vocal
C.A. Ferrari - batucada and back vocal
Celson Alvim - batucada and back vocal

*batucada means that they play about 40 instruments, not necessarily percussion instruments.

Monica Salmaso

2006-05-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

(Reprint from Monica's website)

"Born in Sao Paulo in 1971, Monica Salmaso has surfaced as one of the best young voices among the new talents of Brazil.

She started her musical career singing in a "comedy" directed by the award winning Gabriel Villela.

Besides her music studies in Sao Paulo, Monica has recorded and performed with important Brazilian artists like Edu Lobo, Eduardo Gudin, Jose Miguel Wisnik, Marlui Miranda, Guinga, Nelson Ayres and the Jazz Symphonic Orchestra of Sao Paulo.

She was one of the soloists on the album CANÇOES DE NINAR by Paulo Tatit and Sandra Peres. The CD won Brasil's "Premio Sharp - 95" as Best Recording for Children.

In 1995 she recorded AFRO SAMBAS, a voice and guitar album, arranged and produced by Brazilian guitarist Paulo Bellinati. The CD premiered the complete Afro-Sambas by Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes, including the famous Berimbau and Consolacao; released in US and Europe by GSP (Guitar Solo Publication) Records.

In the same year, recorded with Paulo Bellinati the song "A Felicidade" by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes for one Brazilian Jobim's song book by Lumiar Records.

In 1997, she was nominated for Premio Sharp - 97 as Best New Singer on Brazilian Popular Music with the Cd AFRO SAMBAS.

In 1998 she recorded her first solo Cd TRAMPOLIM - Pau Brasil Music (in Brazil) and Bluejackel Records (in USA) produced by Rodolfo Stroeter. The cd features some of the most creative musicians in Brazilian contemporary music such as Nana Vasconcelos, Teco Cardoso, Paulo Bellinati, among others.

In May of 1999, Monica Salmaso won the Visa-Mastercard-Eldorado Prize for best singer in Brazil among 1.200 contestants, all over the country. The prize has earned attention over Monica's talent and career, and during august/september 99 she recorded for Eldorado records, her third album.

VOADEIRA is also produced by Rodolfo Stroeter. The album has been qualified by the press, as one of the best releases of 99 in Brazilian Popular Music. "Voadeira" features Marcos Suzano, Benjamim Taubkin, Naylor "Proveta", Toninho Ferragutti and Paulo Bellinati, among others.

Also in 1999 Monica was awarded as the “best singer” from Brazil. The prize was conceded by APCA - (Associacao Paulista dos Críticos de Arte), and it is particularly important as it is given by a poll of the most important Brazilian press community .

Since 1998, Monica also sings with the Orquestra Popular de Camara - a 12 piece band - that blends the Brazilian musical heritage along with the personal contribution of each one of the renowned soloist of the group.

She has just released her fourth cd IAIA by the label Biscoito Fino (in Brazil), released in USA and Europe by Harmonia Mundi."

New to Monica? Try listening to "Menina Amanha" , you can really get an idea of her nice deep voice, and unique style.

Adriana Calcanhoto

2006-04-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Adriana Calcanhoto is 'gaucha', a person born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the South of Brazil. She was revealed as a MPB, pop singer and composer in 1990, after a decade of rock in the Brazilian music scene. Adriana helped bring Brazilian music to the parades again.

Her first public appearance took place in Brazilian night clubs. She participated in concerts and music festivals accross the country, releasing her first album 'Enguico' in 1990. The critics raved about her work, and in 1991 she received the Sharp Award in the category 'revelation' for best female singer.

Adriana showed her versatility in a performance at the Argumento bookstore in Rio de Janeiro in a project that chalenged her to set Mario de Sa Carneiro ( a Portuguese poet)'s poems to music.
Her latest work is the album 'Adriana Partimpim', a selection of music for children.

Adriana is constantly creating, as her discography proves it. After her debut album followed Senhas (1992), A fabrica do poema (1994), Maritmo (1998), Publico (2000), Cantada (2002), Adriana Partimpim (2004).

Check out Adriana Calcanhoto's site to listen to her many albums. I particularly love the song "Fico Assim Sem Voce" (The way I am without you) from Adriana Partimpim's album. It is 'bossanovish' ... Well go there and see it for yourself!!!

BossaCucaNova

2006-04-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

Bossacucanova is a Rio-based trio who incorporate influences from around the world to create music that is freshly modern, traditionally Brazilian - and perfect for dancing!

DJ Marcelinho DaLua, bassist Márcio Menescal and keyboardist Alexandre Moreira have given new life and vigor to old bossa nova songs through the application of funky breakbeats, skillful turntablism, electronic manipulation and adventurous mixology.

On the album 'Brasilidade' they work with Roberto Menescal, a guitarist and composer of several classic bossas, who is also Marcio's father.

Their last album, the third for the group, 'Uma Batida Diferente' ("A Different Beat") was recorded in the band's home base of Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro in early 2004. They count with the particpation of Adriana Calcanhoto, Chris Delano, Marcos Valle, just to name a few. It is almost impossible to listen to it and not feel a dance energy emerging.

I would say that 'Uma Batida Diferente' is the perfect prescription for those blue days. Get it rolling and your mood will improve in a matter of seconds!

Visit their site www.bossacucanova.com , in English, to get familiar with their work. Drop us a line, and let us know what you think.

Roberta Sá

2006-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

"Braseiro" is the name of her first album, and was released in 2005. It was produced by Rodrigo Campello, a violinist and guitar player. She sings pure MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) , proving that music does not have an expiration date.

One of the songs in her album is 'Casa Pre-Fabricada' composed by Marcelo Camelo of Los Hermanos, and also recorded by Maria Rita in her latest album. Roberta's interpretation of this song is unique. She delivers it in a pleasant and uplifting way, differing from Maria Rita's version that, in my opinion, is heavier. Try listening to both, and see what you think.

Click here to visit Roberta Sa's site. Figure out how to navigate on the site, click on a little stick on screen to get to the menu, and click on Braseiro to get to the songs.

Los Hermanos

2006-04-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

Los Hermanos is a band from Rio de Janeiro formed by Marcelo Camelo, Rodrigo Amarante, Rodrigo Barba e Bruno Medina. They started in 1999 with the song "Ana Julia"(also recorded by Jim Capaldi and George Harrison), and their repertoire have evolved significantly since then.
They consolidated the band style as cult mainly because of their so-called clever lyrics and mixture of Brazilian rhythms with rock.
Their lyrics talk about current themes, and are composed by the group, mostly by Marcelo and Rodrigo.
Unlike most bands, you can go to their website and listen to a whole song, or even the whole album.
You can also see music clips of the 'beard guys' as they perform different songs (files are fast to download) . Perfect way to get to know their work. Try listening to "Morena" (Brunette), one of my favorites, and see what you think...

Maria Rita

2006-04-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

I wrote the post below last year. By now, Maria Rita has a third album ready to be released world wide on September 14. The title of her new work is "Samba Meu", and as it suggests, the album is filled with new samba from different composers.

Arlindo Cruz's“Tá perdoado”, is the first song of album, and you can listen to it right here.

I will post links to her new songs as soon as they are available. Stay tuned!
_____

Maria Rita is one of the newest voices in the Brazilian music scene. Daughter of the singer Elis Regina (March 17, 1945 - January 19, 1982, was among the most popular female singers in Brazil in the 1960s and '70s.) and Cesar Camargo Mariano, a Brazilian pianist, arranger, composer and music producer.

Maria Rita started her career in May of 2002 participating in a concert that involved different musicians known as 'Meia Noite Meio Dia' ('Midnight Midday').

Her solo career started with the release of album: 'Maria Rita'. In this album she sings songs from different Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Marcelo Camelo (from Los Hermanos, one of my favorite bands, posting coming soon). Great way to start!

Last year, 2005, she released a new album entitled 'Segundo' (Second). The album was produced by Lenine. She sings songs of Rodrigo Maranhao, Marcelo Camelo, Marcelo Yuka, among others.

I enjoy the poetic quality of the two albums, especially in pieces composed by the 'Marcelos': Camelo and Yuka.Their lyrics relate to Brazilian /world issues of the present. Songs like Marcelo Yuka's 'Minha Alma' (My Soul) touches on 'Brazilian social blisters' by questioning who is in prison the middle class or the criminals out on the street when he says: 'as grades do condomínio sao pra trazer protecao mas tambem trazem a duvida se e voce que esta nessa prisao' (the gates of the gated community are designed to bring protection, but it also questions who is prison).

Put a Little Marisa Monte in Your Life

2006-03-29T16:42:00.000-08:00

Marisa Monte is a Brazilian popular singer, and one the biggest stars of contemporary Brazilian Popular Music. She was born on July 1, 1967 in Rio de Janeiro.

While classically trained in opera singing, she grew up surrounded by the sounds of the Portela samba school, and combines diverse influences into her music. While most of her music is in the style of modern MPB (Brazilian Popular Music), she has also recorded traditional sambas and folklore tunes, and songs by Marvin Gaye,and Lou Reed.

Much of her work has been in collaboration with musicians/songwriters Carlinhos Brown, Arnaldo Antunes, and Nando Reis, and producer Arto Lindsay. She has also worked with foreign artists such as Laurie Anderson and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

After 5 years in silence, Marisa Monte has just released two new albums: 'Infinito Particular' (Private Infinite) and 'Universo ao meu redor' (The Universe Around Me).

In 'Infinito Particular', as the name reveals, Marisa dives into her own production: old tape recorded material, incomplete songs, and interrupted ideas. Along with Arnaldo Antunes, Carlinhos Brown, Seu Jorge, Marcelo Yuka, Nando Reis and Adriana Calcanhoto (all contemporary Brazilian musicians) her new album is created. Ale Siqueira is the producer. He also produced the album Tribalista of Marisa Monte, Arnaldo Antunes and Carlinhos Brown.

In 'Universo ao meu Redor', Marisa gathers sambas, some new, while others more traditional along with sambistas, such as Dona Ivone Lara, Argemiro Patrocínio, Jayme Silva, Paulinho da Viola , and Adriana Calcanhotto. In this album, Marisa re-interprets the samba genre with the help of producer Mario Caldato. With a perfect beat, and without shocking the traditionalists, Marisa expresses her views of what samba is. Her way is revolutionary, as well as subtle, just like Paulinho da Viola (a respected sambista from Rio de Janeiro), who, by the way, plays the guitar in the song that receives the name of the album: Universo ao Meu Redor.

For those who are already familiar with Marisa Monte's work, these albums are pearls, and must not be missed. For those new to this Brazilian musical universe, there couldn't be a better way to get initiated.

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