Turning a Dark Time Into a Green One
“Verde” is a Samba akin Bossa Nova, composed by Eduardo Gudin and Jose Carlos Costa Netto in 1985. At that time, after more than 20 years of a cruel military dictatorship, Brazil was at the very edge of getting a brand new Constitution democratically. Claiming for popular elections, there was a touching movement called “Diretas…
Joyce, the Brazilian treasure
I believe it´s almost impossible to assign a label to any kind of music. But I will dare to label Joyce´s work: It has the face of Rio de Janeiro. Sometimes calm, sometimes fuzzy, sometimes happy, sometimes introspective but always beautiful. Joyce Silveira Moreno, a.k.a. Joyce, was defined by Down Beat magazine a couple of…
João Gilberto and the dawn of Bossa Nova
I heard João Gilberto’s version of “Chega de Saudade” for the first time at Radio Jornal do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro. I was 12-13 years old. At that time, I was used to hearing a lot of Jazz, a few Brazilian singers, and musicians. The song itself was not that new. I had heard…
” Noites Cariocas” – Dudu Maia and group. Recorded live at Clube do Choro, Brasilia on 2012.
Choro is the first Brazilian urban music. It was back in the late 19th century in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian musicians started to blend European melodies, Afro-Brazilian rhythms to create Choro. It is credited as being the first musical expression of Brazil’s melting pot. It for sure had a prominent place in the development of…
“Feira de Mangaio” – Mariana Aydar
Recorded on a show at Canto da Ema in São Paulo on November 2017. Brazilian music has many facets. One of the most energetic local rhythms is from the Northeast of the country. It’s a place that is beautiful by the sea, but it is hard for people living in the country’s interior. No rain sometimes for…
“Amando Demais” – an unknown jewell
Marcos Valle & Stacey Kent feat. Jim Tomlinson. This recording was done in a 2013 show. Their collaboration was materialized in live shows, a DVD and Cd box “Live at Birdland – New York City” and a single. “Amando Demais” is one of the most beautiful and less known Brazilian songs. Seems to be from…
Roberto Menescal – Sun, salt, south
“Rio” sung by Luíza Brito, Jana Vasconcelos on guitar. The influences on the early work of Roberto Menescal are clear. The sea, the bright Rio de Janeiro sky, and Rio’s South neighborhood in the 1960s. Born in a middle-class family in Espirito Santo state, he raised himself to be an architect. Still, he found music…
“Incompatibilidade de Genios” but compatibility of musicians…
Banda Pequi e Special Guests – Show and DVD recorded live, Centro de Eventos e Cultura da Federal University of Goias, november, 2014. The very special guests are singer and composer João Bosco and Nelson Faria on guitar. João Bosco was born in Minas Gerais from a family of musicians. He grew up listening to…
Follow this blog
You can be sure I will not sell your email…
You can also follow the hashtag #brazildrops on Instagram
Brazil Drops 