Paulo Moura & Os Batutas: Pixinguinha

Today I received and have already enjoyed listening to my copy of Paulo Moura's award-winning cd-issue, 'Pixinguinha', a live-recording of a concert at The Carlos Gomes Theatre in August 1996, released 1998. As the title suggests, the music on the cd is devoted to compositions by Pixinguinha, and what a thrill it is to listen to these up-dated versions of classic choro. Reedplayer Paulo Moura unites with an ensemble of very skilled musicians, re-creating the spirit of Pixinguinha's famous group, Os Oito Batutas: Jorge Simas (violão de 7 cordas), Marcio (cavaquinho), Jorginho (pandeiro), Zé da Velha (trombone), Joel da Nascimento (bandolim) and Jovi & Marcal (percussion).

It's a pleasure to celebrate the 50th entry at this blog recommending this great live-recording by Paulo Moura & Os Batutas. Tracklist inserted below.

1. Ainda Me Recordo 2. Segura Ele 3. Proezas De Solon 4. Cochichando 5. Ingenuo 6. Lamentos 7. Carinhoso 8. Misura E Manda 9. Batuque Na Cozinha 10. Oito Batutas 11. Pelo Telefone 12. Rosa 13. Naquele Tempo 14. Vou Vivendo 15. Um A Zero 16. Urubu Malandro

I also recommend a visit at Paulo Moura's official web. At his website you are having the opportunity to listen to lengthy audio tracks from his large output, moreover various video clips are available, too.

Jo

Saludos Amigos!

My son, Tue, is turning 11 years of age during the week-end. Like other kids of his age he is quite keen on Disney cartoons. As a responsible father I like to point him to some of the masterpieces from 'the golden age' by the Disney staff . I have found an example related to Brazil and Brazilian music tradition, enjoy the classic 'Saludos Amigos!' by clicking the link.

Congratulations, Tue !

Jo

Gafieira

In Mika Kaurismäki's documentary, Brasilrinho, on choro in Rio we are introduced to the practice of gafieira in a couple of scenes. Gafieira is another word for the Brazilian tradition of ballroom performance by orchestra and dancers.

A gafieira band traditionally features a rhythm section consisting of percussion (pandeiro and other hand-played percussion), drums (bateria), bass, along with any variety of horns (saxophone, trombone, clarinet, flute, trumpet), keyboards, guitar, and the unique and lively sound of the cavaquinho. It can range in size from as few as 6 to a full big-band formation.

The gafieira repertoire consists of a variety of rhythms, including samba de gafieira, tango brasileiro, maxixe, habanera, lundu, polca, xotis, and batuque, but also choro.

One of the scenes in Kaurismäki's'Brasileirinho' takes us to a ballroom where reedplayer Paulo Moura leads a small ensemble playing danceable choro and red hot Brazilian swing while the dancefloor is crowded with dancing pairs having a good time. This is an example of the gafiera tradition kept well alive.

Paulo Moura has been a part of this gafieira tradition for several years besides taking part in numerous musical projects and various orchestras inside and outside Brazil.Together with US pianist Cliff Korman he has led a band keeping the gafieira tradition alive and has toured both Brazil and the USA. I found a website devoted to their co-work concerning the gafiera, have a look here to learn more.

Listen to an audio-clip of 'Delicado' perfomed by Moura-Korman's gafiera band by clicking here

Jo

Moro No Brasil

Mika Kaurismäki produced the film Brasileirinho about choro in Rio. Now he has released a new film about Brasilian music. Learn more about this film by clicking the picture or follow this link

Otto Jägersberg writes about MORO NO BRASIL, quoted from the mentioned website:

"(...) A Finn, speaking Portuguese and English in his own style, travels throughout Brazil looking for musicians, people who play folk-music. And what music it is! It is so beautiful it hurts. (...) The Finn, director Mika Kaurismäki, finds the most bizarre and the most beautiful examples. Whether they are representative or even correct from a musical/ethnological point of view - we don’t know. We like the film anyway. Is it a musical film or a documentary or a film about a strange Finn? We don’t know either. And that is what is special about this film: it refuses to be classified (...) Mika Kaurismäki has created a film about popular music in Brazil, about Samba and related rhythms. All those who have ears to hear should definitely go and see it!"

The film is available on DVD, I have ordered a copy and will make a more extensive comment, when I have seen it.

Video of trailer for the film available here

Jo

Trio Madeira Brasil - First Issue (1998)

My latest posting here concerned a cd release of a live-performance by The Trio Madeira Brasil featuring three top-class guest stars of the São Paulo music scene. The cd was released in 2004 and is still available (see previous message at this blog for more info).

However,Trio Madeira Brasil has teamed since 1997 and during this week I have had the opportunity to listen to their first issued cd from 1998, which was nominated for the 1998 Sharp prize for Best Group and Best Album. This cd contains excellent performance of compositions by Jacob do Bandolim, Ernesto Nazareth and Pixinguinha, further the cd features works by Egberto Gismonti, Edu Lobo and Chico Buarque, To complete the repertoire of the trio a couple of compositions from the classical field also are included, 'Danza de La Vida Breve' by Manuel de Falla and 'Valsa Venezuelana no 3' by Antonio Lauro. Moreover the cd also has a reading of Scott Joplin's 'The Easy Winners' with inserted sound of shooting like the 1972 recording by Marvin Hamlish used in the soundtrack of the famous movie, "The Sting". A complete tracklist inserted below:

Trio Madeira Brasil

(Kuarup :: 1998)(TMB-98)

1 .Santa Morena (Jacob do Bandolim) 2. Agüenta Seu Fulgêncio (Lourenço Lamartine/Jacob do Bandolim) 3. Guerreiro (Ernesto Nazareth) 4. Danza de La Vida Breve (Manuel de Falla) 5. Celestial (Ernesto Nazareth) 6. Loro (Egberto Gismonti) 7. Corrupião (Edu Lobo) 8. As Vitrines (Chico Buarque) 9. Labirinto (Ernesto Nazareth) 10.The Easy Winners (Scott Jopplin) 11.Valsa Venezuelana n† 3 (Antonio Lauro) 12.Batuque (Ernesto Nazareth) 13.Paulista (João dos Santos) 14.Um a Zero (Pixinguinha/Benedito Lacerda)

Trio Madeira Brasil: Ronaldo do Bandolim - mandolin; Zé Paulo Becker - 6 string guitar, "viola caipira" (6); Marcello Gonçalves - 7 string guitar

Special Guests: Zero - percussion (6,7); Zé Renato - voice (6)

I highly recommend this cd by three very talented top-class musicians devoting their skills to great music that both contains classic choro and other delightful pieces. Learn more about the Trio Madeira Brasil from their website

At the website you'll also find video and audio clips from the trio's recordings. Enjoy the Trio Madeira Brasil in a rendition of 'Santa Morena' from the cd mentioned above. Click here to download the mp3 file

Jo

Trio Madeira Brasil

In Mika Kaurismäki's documentary on contemporary choro in Rio de Janeiro, 'Brasileirinho', the Trio Madeira Brasil had a leading role in the musical preparations, performance and final success of the filmed concert by the trio extended with the cream of cariocian choro musicians and guest performers. The Trio Madeira Brasil is Ronaldo do Bandolim (bandolim), Zé Paulo Becker (violão de 6 cordas) and Marcello Goncalves (violão de 7 cordas), all very talented and higly skilled musicians excelling in choro and choro related repertoire.

The trio was formed in 1997 and has performed all over Brazil and outside the country with great success, the members also taking part in other bands and musical projects in between performances by the trio. The trio launched their first album in 1998, which had two nominations for the 1998 Sharp prize for Best Group and the Best Album.

Their secound album is a live-recording of a concert from January 2004, when the trio made a performance at the Teatro Municipal de São Sebastião in São Paulo with guest starring by three top-class musicians of the São Paulo music scene: Laércio de Freitas (piano), Proveta (soprano sax, clarinet) and Toninho Ferragutti (accordion). The band is completed by a rhythm section of Evaldo Guedes (bass), Sérgio Machado (drums) and Beto Cazes (percussion). The recording of the concert is issued by Lua Discos (MCD 283) and is still available. The performed music includes compositions by João do Santos, Jacob do Bandolim, Radamés Gnatalli as well as by members of the group - all very well executed and creating deserved applause by the attending audience.

I highly recommend this live-recording as a great musical experience and yet another sample of the strength and high level of contemporary choro in Brazil.

Soundclips from the recorded concert and a short review available here

Jo