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"
Next video features full ensemble playing Jacob's "Benzinho"
Duke Heitger, trumpet, is featured soloist on "Mighalas de amor"
The set devoted to Jacob do Bandolim closes with an ensemble version of "Assanhado"
A Merry Christmas - Feliz Natal! to readers and followers of this blog.
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"
A roda de choro can be established anywhere, even in your own living room as part of a social meeting - here's an example featuring Ronaldo do bandolim (bandolim) playing together with Carlinhos Leite (violão) of Epoca de Ouro and a young Julião Rabello (violão 7 cordas), the tune is "Turbilhão de Beijos" by E. Nazareth
This time just two inserted videos from YouTube for you to enjoy, if you haven't found them yourself already.
The first video features Hamilton de Holande and Danilo Brito in a duo setting playing Jacob do Bandolim's 'Receita de Samba' backstage and then Ernesto Nazareth's 'Fidalgo' on stage from a live performance this summer
The second video features Dudu Maia on bandolim accompanied by Juninho Ferreira (sanfona/ accordeon), Fernando César (violão 7 cordas), Rafael dos Anjos (violão), Pedro Vasconcellos (cavaquinho), Valerinho (pandeiro) & Thiago Viegas (triângulo) recorded in Brasilia March 2010 - the tune played is a composition by Dudu Maia 'Não tem Coré-coré'
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 Bandidowas 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
Recently the Brazilian Trio Baru released its first album under its own name, entitled Alma Brasileira. The Trio Baru was founded six years ago by three skilled Brazilian instrumentalists: Cavaquinho and guitar playerNelson Latif - acoustic guitar playerJoão Bosco Oliveira and percussionist Rafael dos Santos.
Nelson Latif( source: nelsonlatif.com)
Nelson Latif, born in Sao Paulo, was raised with Choro music, a music style that goes back to the 1870s when musicians in Rio the Janeiro developed this creative musical style. Some people put Choro music or Chorinho on a par with the early US jazz styles, like Ragtime and Dixieland music and that's not so strange as you can say that it has, more or less, the same roots and it developed in the same periods. Choro was primarily an instrumental form, and to a North American (and European) ear it might sound a litle like a small Dixieland jazz combo playing with strange rhythms, extreme melodic leaps, unexpected modulations, and occasional breakneck tempos.( source: The Billboard Book of Brazilian Music.). When I first heard a Choro band ( Choro Brasil Scandinavia) at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival in 2005, improvising, playing together in a so-calledRoda de Chora in a bar after their concert at Mandala, featuring members of the Choro Brasil Scandinavia and jazz guitarist Jacob Fischer, it felt as if the New Orleans spirit of the collective improvisation had re-borned, fresh and with an enthusiasm, I'd rarely heard in traditional jazz music now-a-days. Some friends, who visited the recently organized Roda de samba e Choroin Amsterdam, organized by Nelson Latif too, had that same experience.
Trio Baru: f.l.t.r.: Nelson Latif - Rafael dos Santos - Bosco Oliveira.(photo courtesy: Clausem Bonifacio)
Nelson Latif's trio combines Jazz and Choro and other Brazilian musical influences in his unique style. Nelson Latif moved to Amsterdam more then 20 years ago and the cavaquinho became his main instrument, although he loves to play the 7-string acoustic guitar, the violão de sete cordas, the v.7 which has an extra bass string ( usually tuned to C ), so it can used for bass lines too. Nelson Latif played and recorded with dozens of Dutch jazz musicians, like vocalist Joseé Koning and Joeri De Graaf ( they can be heard at the great album Chôro, samba e afins).
Bosco Oliveira, who plays the acoustic guitar, was born in Brasilia, and started to play the guitar eight years old - he graduated twenty years ago at the University of Brasilia and is an expert in the Spanish Flamenco guitar style - Rafael dos Santos is from São Luis and knows how to mix traditional Brazilian music with modern jazz styles.
Fragment of Heitor Villa-Lobos composition: Bachianas Brasileiras Nº 5(source: Choro: A Social History of a Brazilian Music)
Nelson Latif writes in the liner notes that he wanted to make a survey of the different Brazilian music styles, as a trajectory of Brazilian instrumental music, hoping to take the listener on a little journey inside the sonorous realms of our people's imagination. The album contains a dozen tracks, most original compositions by great Brazilian composers, inspired by music styles like Choro: Waldir Azevedo, Ernesto Nazareth and Jacob do Bandolim- Bossa Nova: Baden Powell (de Aquinho) - Jazz-Fusion: Airto Mocedo and popular Brazilian music: Paulinho da Viola and Milton Nascimento. The Choro music revived during the 1950s and 1960s due to great musicians like Jacob do Bandolim and Waldir Azevedo, both present with two tracks. The tunes Nelson Latif and his Trio Baru selected are seldom heard, like Santa Morena and Alma Brasileira; the latter originally recorded by Jacob do Bandolim and his Regional do Canhoto in the 1950s. I personally liked the tune entitled Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5, a tribute to the Orchestral Suite #3 by Johann Sebastian Bach, composed in the 1940s by the great guitarist and composer Heitar Villa-Lobos.
Nelson Latif( source: neslonlatif.com)
Nelson Latif released some more great albums like Movimento - the before mentioned Chôro, samba e afins, with guitar player Joeri de Graaf and the album Tribute to João Pernambuco, dedicated to the music of the legendary Brazilian composer and guitar player João Teixeira de Guimarães, better known as João Pernambuco.
If you love Brazilian (string) music in general and Choro music in particular, try to find yourself a copy by this great Trio Baru: Alma Brasilieira. You can get more info about how to obtain a copy atthe Nelson Latif website.
Deze blog verschijnt in het Nederlands op de Keep Swingingblog.
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"
