Episode #4: Welcome to Brazil!

With a country as vast as Brazil, it is only natural that there is a corresponding varied array of musical styles. With this mix I tried to provide at least one example of each genre – clearly a tall order and a volume 2 is already in the works.

Hopefully the selected songs present a nice smorgasbord of traditional Brazilian music, ranging from forró (Luiz Gonzaga’s “Asa Branca”), which is folk music predominantly from the Northeast, to Tim Maia’s funky 70s soul stylings. Also represented is Olodum’s samba-reggae from Bahia as well as an early Gal Costa recording that is typical of the Tropicalia movement. “Aguas de Março” could easily serve as Brazil’s national anthem as icon Elis Regina and legendary singer/songwriter/composer Antonio Carlos Jobim team up to deliver a cornerstone of what is simply referred to as MPB (musica popular brasileira). And what overview of Brazilian music could be complete without some samba. João Bosco’s ode to the cavaquinho, the small stringed instrument (kind of like a tiny guitar) that forms the backbone of samba, is a fitting tribute.

I chose to bookend the set with songs that contain the word “saudade,” which is a very important concept in Brazil. Its closest approximation in English is a longing or yearning, usually simplified further as meaning “to miss” something. However, many Brazilians will tell you that there is no accurate translation for the word saudade. As mostly everything else in Brazil, it carries a much more passionate and richer meaning, something you have to feel. Nevertheless, whether you speak Portuguese or not, listening to these songs that cover a broad spectrum of the Brazilian soul, you will hopefully begin to get the idea.

Track listing:
1) Quando Eu Me Chamar Saudade (3:28) – Nelson Cavaquinho
2) Aguas de Março (3:35) – Antonio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina
3) Mulher Brasileira (4:26) – Jorge Ben
4) Mina do Condominio (6:41) – Seu Jorge
5) Preta Pretinha (6:41) – Novos Baianos
6) Palmas No Portão (2:52) – Risadinha
7) Tudo que Você Podia Ser (2:57) – Milton Nascimento
8) O Show Tem Que Continuar (Live) (3:28) – Fundo Quintal
9) Kid Cavaquinho (2:58) - João Bosco
10) Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda (3:29) – Hyldon
11) Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) (3:52) – Jorge Ben
12) Asa Branca (2:53) – Luiz Gonzaga
13) Na Frente do Reto (5:29) – O Rappa
14) Cinema Olympia (3:07) – Gal Costa
15) Envolvente Olodum (3:08) – Olodum
16) De Noite Na Cama (4:16) – Caetano Veloso
17) Bom Senso (5:09) – Tim Maia
18) Chega de Saudade (2:01) - João Gilberto