‘Brazil Special’, with traditional & contemporary music.
1- Tudo Azul, Velha Guarda da Portela (The Guardians of Samba).
The album Tudo Azul was recorded in 1999 by the Velha Guarda da Portela (which is Portuguese for Portela’s oldest), and was produced by the famous Brazilian singer Marisa Monte. She also participates in the album, just like many other artists, including Cristina Buarque and Moreno Veloso. The songs on the album were composed between 1945 and 1972.
CD: Tudo Azul, Velha Guarda da Portela. Label: Phonomotor Records (1999). Video
2- I Festival Instrumental de Guarulhos.
With more than 170 recorded compositions from all corners of Brazil, the second edition of the ‘Festival Instrumental Guarulhos’ is certainly important for the development of Brazilian jazz and contemporary Brazilian music as a whole. Twelve different ensembles are on this album, including those of drummer Alex Buck, pianist Rafael Martine and guitarist Renato Anesi.
CD: I Festival Instrumental de Guarulhos. Label: Capucho (2005), code: 001.
3- Violino Popular Brasileiro, Rocardo Herz.
Ricardo Herz is a musician who has been taught classical and jazz music. He studied with Didier Lockwood in France, where he regularly runs workshops on Brazilian music. Herz’s repertoire is rich in instrumental Brazilian melodies and moves from northeaster rhythms to choro, samba and its multiple variations. His knowledge of Brazilian music was the inspiration for his second solo album ‘Brazil 3/4’, which includes famous popular waltzes by composers Milton Nascimento and Djavan.
CD: Violino Popular Brasileiro, Rocardo Herz. Label: Videolar (2006). Video
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The God Who Devastates Also Cures, Lucas Santtana.
Santtana comes from Bahia, in the north of Brazil. With this album he delivers an artistic triumph based on a very personal story about the end of a relationship. With his versatility and skilfulness he offers, once again, a masterpiece of pop, electro rock with a hint of Afro beat, rising symphonic ballads, breakbeats and ska.
CD: The God Who Devastates Also Cures, Lucas Santtana. Label: Mais Um (2012), code: Mais014. Video
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For Real, Zeca Pagodinho.
Samba traditionalists consider Zeca Pagodinho as a rare talent. At the same time he is a great commercial succes. Born in the working class suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, he attended the sambo-sambas regularly from a young age, and sang and presented his own compositions there. With the local rise of the samba style known as pagode, in the 1970s, Zeca Pagodinho really became famous. He released his first solo album in 1986, and after that, from 2000, recorded 13 more albums.
CD: For Real, Zeca Pagodinho. Label: Wrasse Records (2006), code: wrasse185. Video
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Lygia Campos.
Pianist, singer, composer and arranger Lygia Campos studied piano and classical singing at the ‘Brasileiro de Música’ conservatory and the Rio de Janeiro University. In Brazil, Lygia performed at the most famous clubs of Rio and played on TV shows numerous times with her own trio. One of her teachers was Luiz Eca, a central figure in the Brazilian ‘bossa’ history and pianist of the legendary Tamba Trio.
CD: Meu nome é Brasil, Lygia Campos. Label: Galilea (2008). Video
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Bossa-cuca-nova.
A wonderful album of bossa melodies, performed by Carlos Lyra, Pedro Luis and Leo Gandelman, among others. Bossa-cuca-nova is the most important contemporary electro-acoustic fusion band of Brazil. The core sounds of keyboard player and guitarist Alex Moreira, bassist Márcio Menescal and DJ Marcelinho Da Lua are completed by horns and flutes, vocals and extra percussion. Special guests are for instance Marcos Valle, Leo Gandelman and Carlos Lyra. Far from simplified, Bossa-cuca-nova stays true to tradition while using electronics, improved beats and jazz improvisation by the saxophone and flute players.
CD: Bossa-cuca-nova: Celebrating 50 Years of Bossa Nova. Label: Ziriguiboom Records (2009), code: ZIR-32. Video
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Carnaval só ano que vem, Orquestra Imperial.
Orquestra Imperial plays a new, sophisticated music style, adopted in the ballrooms of Rio de Janeiro. Bigband Samba is back, as are young Brazilian dancers, in 1940’s and 50’s style. The album includes old and new compositions which are played by a large band dominated by electric guitar, percussion, brass and an ever changing series of singers, among which the well-beloved Moreno, the beautiful Thalma de Freitas and Star of Samba veteran Wilson das Neves.
CD: Carnaval só ano que vem, Orquestra Imperial. Label: Totolo (2007). Video
