Brazilian music | World Music Central

A hand-drawn circle filled with yellow, orange, blue, and pale green geometric fragments sits against a deep maroon background. The title Midnight Sun Live appears in white lettering near the top. The names Julien Tassin, Manuel Hermia, and Chris Joris are printed below in a smaller font.

Daydream Believer

Belgian saxophonist Manuel Hermia is joined by guitarist Julien Tassin and Chris Joris on the Brazilian berimbau for “Reverie,” a piece of music that’s hard…

A garden of colorful wildflowers fills the frame in golden light. The single title Laranjeiras appears at the bottom in white type.

Music videos Single reviews

Samba Gone Beyond

Tom Orr January 20, 2026 No Comments Brazilian music samba Soma Soma world music

A dual Brazil and UK band, Soma Soma bridges the gaps between samba past, present, and future on “Laranjeiras.” And they do it very well.

Duet Paty & Leo Da Nossa Terra cover artwork. A photo of the two artists.

Music videos Single reviews

Brazil For Two

Tom Orr January 18, 2026 No Comments Brazilian music Duet Paty & Leo world music

California-based Duet Paty & Leo breeze their way through “Acaso,” a silky Brazilian-flavored piece in which voice, acoustic guitar and percussion are the foundation for…

A star-filled black backdrop surrounds a collage of radiant shapes, miniature figures, planets, and dreamlike landscapes. A rainbow-framed portrait of the artist sits near the center, amid swirling cosmic motifs, a lone piano, and vibrant bursts of color.

Album reviews

Sessa Leans Into “Crooked Funk” On New Album Pequena Vertigem De Amor

Angel Romero December 28, 2025 No Comments Brazilian music Sessa world music

Sessa – Pequena Vertigem de Amor (Mexican Summer, 2025) Brazilian songwriter and guitarist Sessa recently released Pequena Vertigem De Amor (A Little Vertigo of Love).…

Various Artists - Brasil Calling Volume 22 cover artwork. A listing of the artistsincluded over a cream background.

Album reviews

Brazil Meets The World In Brasil Calling Volume 22

Angel Romero December 4, 2025 No Comments Abacaxepa Alessandra Leão Brazilian music Bruno Capinan Carlos Rennó Chico César Chico Lobo Da Cruz Daúde Edu Lobo Grupo Você Vai Se Quiser JØY Brandt Lia de Itamaracá Lucas Caram LuDom Mandinga Beat Maurício Tagliari MELO-T Ney Marques Nina Nicolaiewsky Orchestra Baobab Quinteto da Paraíba Siso Thiago Bispo Tiê Victoria dos Santos Walmir Gil world music Xangai Zanna

Various Artists – Brasil Calling Volume 22 (2025) Brasil Calling Volume 22 highlights 15 tracks that weave Brazil’s regional traditions with contemporary collaborations across continents.…

Making The Accordion Great Again: Liberty Bellowsexhibiiton - Photo by Angel Romero. Various accordions on display.

Articles

Squeezeboxes Across Borders: The Accordion and Its Diaspora

Angel Romero November 23, 2025 No Comments accordion bandoneón Brazilian music Cajun music Celtic music concertina Spanish music tango vallenato world fusion world music Zydeco

(headline image: Making The Accordion Great Again: Liberty Bellows exhibition – Photo by Angel Romero) Few instruments move as fluidly through working-class dance halls, classical…

Anunciaçǎo by big beet . a live performance still from the music video.

Music videos Single reviews

Dual South American Sizzle

Tom Orr November 10, 2025 No Comments big beet Brazilian music Colombian music cumbia forró world fusion world music

Should you be in need of a pulsating, exhilarating mix of Brazilian forró and Colombian cumbia, “Anunciaçǎo” by the USA’s big beet will handily satisfy…

The single cover for A História da Nossa Língua by Lucas Santtana and Gilberto Gil features a white background with three figures at the bottom. The central figure wears elaborate, colorful attire with a feathered headdress. On each side stand the two musicians men holding green ceremonial objects, dressed in contrasting dark and light outfits. Above them, the title appears in hand-drawn lettering.

Music videos

Lucas Santtana & Gilberto Gil Chart Brazil’s Language In New Duet

World Music Central News Room November 3, 2025 No Comments Brazilian music Gilberto Gil Lucas Santtana world music

Bahian artists Lucas Santtana and Gilberto Gil release “A História da Nossa Língua,” a collaboration celebrating the richness and complexity of Brazilian Portuguese. The lyrics…

The cover of Vai Passar by Antonio Adolfo features an illustration of two puppet-like figures in carnival-inspired attire. One wears a clown hat and holds a tambourine, while the other, dressed in patterned clothing, appears animated and mid-dance. The background fades in soft beige tones with green and red hues. The artist’s name appears in blue letters at the top, and the album title in red below.

Music videos Single reviews

All That Brazilian Jazz

Tom Orr October 29, 2025 No Comments Antonio Adolfo Brazilian music world music

Rio de Janeiro-born pianist Antonio Adolfo never misses that perfect meeting point between jazz and Brazilian roots with “Vai Passar,” his take on a tune…

FurmigaDub, ZEBB, and Mestra Penha - “Reis Caninana” cover artwork. A photo of a colorful snake.

Music videos

FurmigaDub, ZEBB & Mestra Penha Unveil “Reis Caninana” — Northeast Brazil Tradition Meets Modern Studio Spark

World Music Central News Room October 17, 2025 No Comments Brazilian music FurmigaDub Mestra Penha world music ZEBB

Kaxambu Records has released “Reis Caninana,” a collaborative single from FurmigaDub, ZEBB, and Mestra Penha that connects Northeastern Brazilian traditions with contemporary production for world…