His friends used to say, “His accordion speaks for him”. However, the most notable contribution to the genre of forró marked by the arrival of Reginaldo Alves Ferreira, better known as ‘ Camarão’, was a horn section. Originating... Read Article
“Accordions Around the World,” a series that brings over 100 accordionists, as well as bandoneón, bayan, concertina, and harmonium-players, to perform at New York City’s Bryant Park has an exciting lineup which includes several Latin American acts. The series... Read Article
Forró London Festival is coming back again this year to celebrate its 5th anniversary in London. This year the festival will take place from the 25th to the 28th of February in various locations around London and will... Read Article
Kafundó Records are back with a new selection of bass and electronic music from Brazil, following on from Volume 1: Digital Roots Music From Brazil and Volume 2: Roots and Bass Music from Brazil, both of which earned... Read Article
“Gata, you’re going to have to earn your way up by playing the bars”. These are the words that greeted the carioca Flávia Coelho when she first decided to follow her idols and move to Paris. Nine years... Read Article
There can’t be many popular musical genres which feature the triangle, drum and accordion as three staple instruments. Forró, pronounced foh-ho, is one of them. It’s a lively, addictive music that has its origins in Northeast Brazil and... Read Article
When she plays live, the veteran Brazilian singer Gal Costa usually reflects her Tropicália legacy, with a smooth band to complement her classically spumy delivery. Her latest recording presents a radically different view. The equally veteran Caetano Veloso... Read Article
Jorge Continentino describes himself as a saxophonist and flutist, but he regularly draws on his piano and guitar-playing skills when he’s writing original music. Jorge got an early start, leaving his hometown of Rio de Janeiro at just... Read Article
In the second part of Sounding Out the Swamp: Recife, Pernambuco, and The Cultural Rise of Northeastern Brazil (read part one here) Gregory Scruggs looks at how manguebit affected the musical landscape of Northeastern Brazil, starting with the... Read Article
The name Smokey Hormel may not sound very familiar, but it’s almost certain that you will own a record somewhere that features his guitarwork. His name can be found in the credits for albums by Beck, Johnny Cash,... Read Article
“Volteeeeeiiii Recife…!” (Recife, I’m back!) “Foi a saudade que me trouxe pelo braço…” (Missing you has dragged me back). When I think of Carnival in Recife and Olinda in the North East of Brazil, the first thing that... Read Article
In his latest work Fé na Festa, Brazil’s former Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil returns to his roots to celebrate the São João festival, a celebration, which fills northeastern calendars with a week of wall to wall forró... Read Article
