The Danish-Brazilian trio, Tresafinado (Pia Kaufmanas, (flute),Torsten Borbye Nielsen (g), Afonso Corrêa (perc)) has just been on tour in Denmark for concerts and conducting workshops at the coservatory performing and informing about choro. Tresafinado was accompanied by four Brazilian aces of choro at the tour: Mauricio Carrilho (violão 7 cordas), Luciana Rabello (cavaquinho), Pedro Aragão (bandolim, cavaco) and Nailor Proveta (clarinet). The tour was a follow-up of a co-work between Tresafinado and the mentioned Brazilian musicians in making of the cd, Lúdico, that was released last year and recorded in Rio at Acari Records' studio 2010. The cd has been reviewed in an earlier entry at this blog, click here
In 2008 Tresafinado was invited to participate in the ”IV Festival Nacional de Choro” in Brazil, which inspired guitarist Torsten Borbye Nielsen to compose several choros that were enthusiastically received by the Brazilian audience during the trio's performance and praised by the well known musician and producer, Mauricio Carrilho. The result of this was that Tresafinado was invited to Rio in March 2010 to record some of this material at the shown cd. The tour of Denmark in January 2012 presented music from the cd together with new compositions by Torsten Borbye Nielsen and Mauricio Carrilho. One of the concerts was recorded by Danish Radio and will be available in streaming audio at the DR website, check uploaded concerts here - I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the recorded concert, which took place in a location of my region (Tønder Museerne, arr. Tønderegnens Musikforening). The location was a perfect frame of the concert that had an audience of c. 80 attending individuals. The musicans and the audience had a positive and friendly contact right from the start and the performance gradually gained an intimate atmosphere and excited applause during the 2 hrs concert. - The concert was in 2 parts, and the progam of the performed music contained a repertoire reflecting the diversity of choro, both the historical dimension and the contemporary tradition of choro was presented by the seven skilled musicians. The program started with a performance of two pieces composed by guitarist Torsten Borbye Nielsen, "Lembrancas de São Pedro" and "Doctor Pedro", the last mentioned a first-time presentation. The ensemble continued with a reading of Jacob do Bandolim's "Vibracoes" featuring Pedro Aragão playing lead on bandolim and sharing solo with the flute and clarinet. 
The program continued with a duo performance of "Choro No. 1" by Villa-Lobos featuring Torsten Borbye Nielsen on lead guitar accompanied by Mauricio Carrilho on 7-string guitar, then followed by an ensemble reading of "De bem com a vida", a composition by Luciana Rabello showcasting the cavaquinho as lead voice.
Next was a reading of "Arranca Toco", a choro by Jayme Florence (Meira) leaving space for exchanging of solo spots and the performance then continued with "Maxixe pro Afonso", a composition by Mauricio Carrilho dedicated to the percussion player of the ensemble, Afonso Corrêa. First part of the concert ended with two more first-time presentations, "Reflexão" by Torsten Borbye Nielsen and Maurico Carrilho's "Choro na Danmarks Radio".
The second part of the concert started with three pieces by Torsten Borbye Nielsen from the Lúdico-cd, "Pipocou!", Valsa pro Proveta" and "Maria" - the valsa is dedicated to Nailor Proveta, who was featured soloist on clarinet.
Next followed three up-tempo choros, "A Fiddler in Rio" by Svend Asmussen, "Remexendo" by Radamés Gnattali and "Bole-Bole" by Jacob do Bandolim - all three pieces well performed and causing a big applause from the audience. The last three pieces of the program had yet another first-time presentation by Torsten Borbye Nielsen, a maxixe titled"Cancão Feliz", further Mauricio Carrilho's "Koala" and the title tune of the mentioned cd, "Lúdico". The performance of the music presented in the concert was very well and enthusiastically received by the audience, the standing applause at the end of the program called for an 'extra' and the ensemble payed off with an excellent performance of Pixinguinha's "Cochiando" - a successfull concert had come to an end, luckily saved by Danmarks Radio that broadcasted the recorded full concert on January 18th and will have it uploaded in streaming audio at their website , see above for the link.
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Personally, I like to express my gratitude to Tresafinado and their Brazilian guests for a great concert, it's a sheer joy to experience choro played live, and when the performance is on such a high level as produced by these very skilled musicians you cannot find a better expression of gratitude than: Thank you! - I also like to thank Mauricio, Luciana, Pedro and Proveta for our small conversation during the break and after the concert, great meeting you in person and hoping to keep in contact. Thanks again!
Jo
Several jazz musicians have been attracted by Brazilian music styles like the samba and the bossa nova, recently the Brazilian choro has also found followers among established performers of American jazz. Here we can document the inspiration drawn from choro by inserting a couple of video fragments from a jazz concert earlier this year. The well known jazzguitarist Howard Alden and his ensemble including Duke Heitger, trumpet; Dan Barrett, trombone; Dan Block, Scott Robinson, reeds; Jon Burr, bass; Pete Siers, drums, devoted a part of their live performance to music by Jacob do Bandolim. - Here is first a trio version of Jacob's "Simplicidade"
Throughout the story of choro the meeting of chorões (choro musicians) at rodas do choro (social and musical, informal sessions) has been a crucial affair to evolve and keep the music alive. The roda is the heart of choro tradition and practice involving both the experienced and amateur musician - no restrictions as to age, skin colour, sex or ability. The roda is a truly democratic union of musicians getting together to play together and having a good time in an informal setting that most often also attract an audience of friends, family and admirers.- Earlier this year a new dvd, the shown Nas Rodas do Choro (Biscoito Fino), documenting the importance of the roda de choro in Brazilian tradition was released. The documentary was filmed and directed by Milena Sá between 2004 and 2008, the film was launched 2009 and the dvd-edition July this year. In about 50 minutes, the film features meetings between chorões mostly in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The narrative fragments are accompanied by musical examples recorded at rodas do choro with testimonials from musicians about their relationship with choro and the roda. The documentary thus turns on the sound and testimonials from the likes of Nilze Carvalho (cavaquinho, bandolim), Joel Nascimento (bandolim), Odette Ernest Dias (flute), Deo Rian (bandolim), Mauricio Carrilho (violão), Zé da Velha (trombone), Silverio Pontes (trumpet) and Luciana Rabello (cavaquinho). The film also focuses on contemporary groups - such as Choro na Feia and Trio Madeira Brazil - while recalling the importance of veterans like Epoca de Ouro, that rescued choro from oblivion after the passing of Jacob do Bandolim and secured its perpetuation during the 1970s revival. - Testimonials on the importance of the roda like "There's no other way to learn choro. It is transmitted in this way, not much to theorize about, what counts is to sit and play together" (Luciana Rabello) underlines the informal setting and points to a way of learning that dissolves a coventional hierarchy between 'teacher' and 'student' in favour of the pleasure of participating in the roda. The music unites young and old, amateurs and experienced in a mutual spirit leaving space for improvisation and experiments of the moment - a true example of 'having fun' and learning at the same time.- The documentary has subtitles in English and French, I should have liked to insert video examples from the film, but I did not find any uploaded. Instead I'll insert a video filmed recently at a roda de choro featuring one of the participating musicians in Milena Sá's documentary. Here's a fragment featuring Joel Nascimento (bandolim) a.o. playing "Receita de Samba" 
This time just two inserted videos from YouTube for you to enjoy, if you haven't found them yourself already.