The Sound of Rio

If you haven't seen it yet, do it. The musical documentary "The Sound of Rio: Brasileirinho" is a great present from Mika Kaurismäki to those who have a passion for "choro", a typical Brazilian style of music. "Choro" or "chorinho" was originated in Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century and has its roots in European ballroom dance music - like waltz and polka - and African rhythms.

The documentary "The Sound of Rio: Brasileirinho" tells a little bit of the history of "choro" but the great thing about this movie are the performances by great names of the current generation of "choro" musicians, like the clarinet and saxophone virtuoso Paulo Moura, the percussionist Marcos Suzano, the Trio Madeira Brasil, the guitar player Yamandú Costa, among others. I had the opportunity to see Yamandú in a concert in Brazil. He is a genius!

If you live in the US, "The Sound of Rio" can be rented at Netflix. If you want to buy the DVD, you can do it at the Milan Records website. Now, if you can't wait to know a little bit more about "chorinho", check this video I have found in YouTube. It is a documentary with Conjunto Época de Ouro, Pixinguinha, Altamiro Carrilho, Jacob do Bandolim, entre outros. If you know Portuguese, you will be able to understand the history told in this movie. If not, just enjoy the music. And if you want to learn Portuguese to see this and other Brazilian movies, I am starting my new blog: Brazilian Portuguese Class. Check it out! And tell me what you think about it!

I Brazilian Film Week

Brazilian movie lovers! Get ready for four days of Brazilian Seventh Art! The Embassy of Brazil organized, in collaboration with Ms. Ilda Santiago, the artistic director of Rio International Film Festival, the First Brazilian Film Week. The festival will take place in Washington, DC, at the Greenberg Theater, from November 15th through 18th. Admission will be free, and on a first-come, first-served basis. So, get there early!! Show times can be checked at the site of the Embassy of Brazil.

And for the fans of Brazilian actors and directors, there is an extra reason not to miss this event: most of the films will be presented to the public by some of the Brazilian stars. So, get your camera ready!

I took a look at the movies that will be on the big screen and I am very curious about the short movie "Yansan". It is a Manga cartoon about Yansan, the orixá of the wind and storms, and her love adventures with two other orixás, Xangô and Ogum. Can you imagine an African myth told by Brazilians in a Japanese cartoon? This could only happen in a creative Brazilian mind!!

I hope to be one of many people seating with a popcorn bag in one hand and a can of Guaraná in the other, enjoying the sounds, colors and inventiveness of Brazil! And with luck, you will be there by my side!

Rosa Passos at Blue Note, New York

If you are in NY or in a short distance from the Big Apple, you can't miss Rosa Passos' concert at Blue Note this weekend (Nov 2 - 4). I will certainly be there. Not only to see this wonderful Brazilian singer but also to see my cousin, Paulo Paulelli that plays the bass in her band. You can listen to him by clicking in "I'm all ears" on the bar on the right side. He is playing a song composed by my father, Messias Santos Jr., also a musician and arranger, who played with João Gilberto among other famous Brazilians.

I have been in one of her concerts before and I simply loved her band. They are all very talented musicians. For those who are bossa nova or jazz fans, this is a must see concert! Have I mentioned she also plays beautifully the guitar? So, check this video out!

Rosa Passos

[via FoxyTunes / Rosa Passos]

Brazil on Travel Channel

Samantha Brown, the host of "Passport to Europe", "Great Vacation Homes", and "Great Hotels", on Travel Channel, has a new series: "Passport to Latin America". What a life! Traveling to the most beautiful and interesting places on Earth, staying in the best hotels, eating delicious exotic food! She is a lucky girl! Well, she is more than lucky, she is really talented. I love her shows. She and her crew just won an Emmy for "Outstanding Lifestyle Directing" for "Passport to Europe".

"Passport to Latin America" will show Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Honduras, and Uruguay. Guess what will be on the screen tonight? My hometown, Sao Paulo! She will show that market I told you about in my first post here, the "Mercado Municipal de Sao Paulo" and will eat that yummy bologna sandwich I drooled for while writing about it. So, don't miss it! Tonight at 8:00 PM. Check the schedule for other destinations. Rio de Janeiro will be on the screen on my birthday, July 4. What a present!!

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Samantha Brown - Source: (http://travel.discovery.com/tv/samantha-brown/bios/samantha-brown.html)

Seu Jorge so close to me!!

Seu Jorge

[via FoxyTunes / Seu Jorge]

I am a fan of Seu Jorge. He has a wonderful deep voice that really touches my heart. And I like his lyrics too. First time I noticed him was in the movie "Cidade de Deus" (City of God), directed by the talented director Fernando Meirelles. In "Cidade de Deus", Seu Jorge was Mané Galinha (Knockout Ned), who had his girlfriend raped by the ultra-violent Zé Pequeno (Little Joe), who also massacred Mané Galinha's family. After the episodes, Mané Galinha begins a plan to destroy Zé Pequeno. Yeah, I know, too much violence. But if you have a strong stomach, I recommend the movie to see the social discrepancies that unfortunately we still witness in Brazil. Seu Jorge also had a participation in the movie "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou", directed by Wes Anderson, with one of my favorite actors and actresses, Bill Murray and Cate Blanchet, respectively. In "The Life Aquatic", Seu Jorge plays some songs of David Bowie.

As Mané Galinha from Cidade de Deus, Seu Jorge also has a poor origin. But instead of moving into a violent path, he found strength in music to fight against violence and has succeeded. His interesting life history is shown in the documentary "Moro no Brasil", written and directed by Mika Kaurismäki. You should check this documentary out. It shows the great diversity of Brazilian music. Besides Seu Jorge, the documentary shows the "Velha Guarda da Mangueira", a group of older people from one of the most important and traditional groups of Carnival in Rio, and other people of significant importance to the Brazilian music in Pernambuco and Bahia, like Margareth Menezes. If you live in the US, Netflix has this documentary as well as "Cidade de Deus" and "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" to rent.

But I'm not here to talk about movies now. I'm here to tell you that Seu Jorge will perform really really close to my home. I can't wait to see him. And as a bonus, I will also listen to the Cape Verdean singer, Cesária Évora. Both will be performing this Friday, June 22, at Wolf Trap, Filene Center, in Vienna, VA, at 8:00 PM.

Cesaria Evora (iii)

[via FoxyTunes / Cesária Évora]

If you live nearby, don't miss this concert! Two great voices singing in Portuguese! If you can't be there, enjoy this video with Seu Jorge and Ana Carolina, two beautiful deep voices together.

ANA CAROLINA E SEU JORGE - É ISSO AI

[via FoxyTunes / Seu Jorge]