As you may well have already read, Brazilian icon João Gilberto died on 6th July, aged 88, in Rio de Janeiro. The word ‘legend’ often gets thrown around far too much, but in Gilberto’s case this was undeniable.... Read Article
As noted right at the beginning of this book, “Getz/Gilberto is the album people think of when they think of bossa nova”. It’s the album that established the style worldwide more than any other, introducing global ears to... Read Article
With legendary Brazilian musician João Donato soon to be making a rare appearance in London we wanted to find somebody who could shine a little light on the great man’s music. Kassin was the obvious choice. Not only... Read Article
When I spoke to Jorge Drexler last year about Bailar En La Cueva – his latest album and undoubtedly his most rhythmic to date – it seemed clear that his influences had grown over the years. The sounds... Read Article
For his last album, Bailar en la Cueva, the Uruguayan singer/songwriter Jorge Drexler took the bold step of relocating to Bogotá and working with Mario Galeano, the mastermind behind Ondatrópica and Frente Cumbiero, and a new group of... Read Article
When I first heard Mallu Magalhães, she was about 15 and her song “Tchubaruba” was beginning to spread across the Internet. The next encounter was 2008 and she had brought guitar and band to the stage of SESC... Read Article
Just a couple of weeks ago we asked our readers to choose what they think are the most influential Brazilian albums of all-time. After receiving 100 responses we are now revealing the 10 albums that received the most... Read Article
Every musical genre has its standard flagbearers: for jazz it’s Miles, Coltrane, Dizzy, Duke. Rock’s got Dylan, Hendrix, Lennon, just to name a few heavy weights. I’m always wary of musical genre or stylistic compilations – how can... Read Article
New York’s Summer Stage is kicking off its 2012 season with an evening of performances by Nu-bossa bombshell, Bebel Gilberto, Grammy-nominated jazz singer Gregory Porter and other acclaimed artists at Highline Ballroom in New York City on January 5th.
Sem Nostalgia was released in Brazil in 2009 yet still sounds unbelievably fresh. If there was ever an argument for artistic constraints making the end-product greater then this is it. On Sem Nostalgia, Lucas Santtana (from Bahia, Brazil)... Read Article
Being a huge fan of Os Novos Baianos I was always going to enjoy Filhos de João, O Admirável Mundo Novo Baiano, the story of the group. The film, which has been retitled Sons of João, The Admirable... Read Article
Like many new Brazilian artists I first encountered the music of Lucas Santtana on Mais Um Disco‘s excellent Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira! album from last year. Santtana’s “Hold Me In” featured on that album and was instantly... Read Article
