Choro Bandido, An English Choro Ensemble

In recent years the popularity of choro has spread outside Brazil, musicians worldwide have opened their ears to the spellbinding sound of this original music of Brazil and now devote their chops to learning and playing choro. - An example of this movement is the English choro ensemble, Choro Bandido, located in Surrey, UK. In 2008 Choro Bandido got together to explore Chorinho. The members of the quartet have been involved in various musical genres in their time. Classically trained violinist Alison Hopper cut her teeth on classical and folk music. Multi-instrumentalist Dave 'the hat' Anthony has played in many contemporary rock bands. He plays keyboards, violin, bass & percussion but for Choro Bandido has added cavaquinho to his instrumental armoury. Guitarist and teacher Brian Bull, a huge Django Reinhardt fan, has a long background playing Gypsy Jazz. Having added a seventh string Brian is now studying the works of the great Yamandú Costa and Dino 7 Cordas. Percussionist Mick Pyke's musical path has been from blues rock through reggae into African music and has now finished up in Brazilian music. He co-founded the samba bloco, Bloco do Sul, (in Surrey, UK) more than 21 years ago and still runs it with Dave. - In 2009 Choro Bandido travelled to California Brazil Camp (CBC) where they spent a week learning from Ted Falcon who is now professor of violin at the "Escola Brasileira de Choro Raphael Rabello" in Brasilia.

Choro Bandido have just completed a 6 track EP CD, shown above. There are just a handful of Choro groups in the UK where choro is little known, so they have chosen some classic tracks to introduce choro to their ever growing audience.



The cd is available from the website of Choro Bandido where you also will find further info on the group including several uploaded videos and audio tracks. - To give you an impression of Choro Bandido in action I insert a couple of videos from live-performance below. The first was recorded recently and features a rendition of Jacob do Bandolim's 'Vibracoes' - enjoy!


Here's a rendition of Waldir Azevedo's 'Brasileirinho' from the same live-performance as above



More music by Choro Bandido in streaming audio available by clicking here

Jo

Transatlantico - New CD From Choro Bandido (UK)

Some time ago we introduced the UK-based choro ensemble, Choro Bandido, and pointed you to the first cd-release by this English choro group. Choro Bandido was established in 2008 and members of the ensemble are: Alison Hopper (violin), Dave Anthony (cavaquinho), Brian Bull (violão 7 cordas) and Mick Pyke (pandeiro and percussion).

Just recently Choro Bandido has released the new cd shown above containing 14 tracks continueing the group's exploration of the Brasilian choro. The repertoire of the disc covers compositions by well-known choro composers/musicians like Ernesto Nazareth (Apanhei-te cavaquinho and Atlântico), Pixinguinha (Cochichando), Jacob do Bandolim (Assanhado, Receita de Samba and Santa Morena), Waldir Azevedo (Delicado, Carioquinha and Arrasta Pe), Altamiro Carrilho (Enigmático) and Jonas Silva of Epoca de Ouro (Meu Chorinho). There is also a composition by Ted Falcon (Tô Chegando), who has been mentoring Choro Bandido, and the last two tracks of the cd are not from the standard choro book, but may be considered related with the spirit of choro - a tune by Henry Mancini (Meglio Stasera) and Astor Piazzolla's famous Libertango. - The music is well performed generating a pleasant atmosphere of a roda de choro, most of the tracks have Alison Hopper playing lead voice on violin - Carioquinha has Dave Anthony on cavaquinho taking lead in this classic by Waldir Azevedo. The solid rhythm is provided by Brian Bull's advanced fretwork on violão 7 cordas, Dave Anthony's cavaquinho and Mick Pyke's various percussion. - The cd is available for purchase at the official web of Choro Bandido where you also have access to more info about the group including audio and video material. - Below I insert the video that was made to promote Choro Bandido's new cd, Transatlantico - enjoy this rendition of Waldir Azevedo's Delicado


To end this small review of the new cd by Choro Bandido, Transatlantico, I insert another video showing the ensemble in a live-performance of Jacob do Bandolim's classic, Noites Cariocas


Jo