The Rough Guide To The Music Of Rio De Janeiro

San Francisco (California), USA – The Rough Guide’s latest release is The Rough Guide To The Music Of Brazil: Rio De Janeiro (RGNET1157CD). It’s a compilation of music from one of Brazil’s most important
centers for musical creation.

Some of Brazil’s better known styles, like Carnaval music, bossa nova (a popular style derived from samba and jazz) and MPB (Popular Brazilian Music) developed in Rio. Brazil’s cocktail of African, European and indigenous cultures are reflected in The Rough Guide To The Music Of Brazil: Rio de Janeiro. A hugely popular DJ on the carioca scene, Marcelinho Da Lua has worked alongside Carlos Lyra’s Cariocas and Wanda Sa and his group Bossacucanova has released three successful worldwide albums. ‘Cotidiano, a Chico Buarque composition, is from Marcelinho’s first solo album, and it features the vocals of Rio’s latest star Seu Jorge. Jorge, who recently released a solo album, is best known internationally for his role in the film City of God.

Equale formed in the 1990s, and they found popularity interpreting the works of artists such as Tom Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Joao Bosco and others Popular on the live circuit. They have numerous awards to their name, and have also lent their talents to many local artist recordings. ‘Aquele Abraco’, included here, was written in 1969 by Gilberto Gil and was used by Equale on their first album, Equate No Expresso Gil.

Singer, guitarist, composer arranger and actor Jards Macalé was born in Tijuca but moved to Ipanema when he was 8 years old. Closely linked to the artists of the tropicalista movement in the 1960s, he directed shows, performed with and had his music recorded by the likes of Maria Bethânia and Gal Costa. ‘Rei De Janeiro’ is taken from his self-titled album.

With a successful career as a samba and pagode singer, Beth Carvalho has sold over a million records She has rediscovered and recorded classics by artists such as Cartola and Nelson Cavaquinho and Noca da Portela. Nelson Cavaquinho and Guilherme de Brito originally wrote the song included here, ‘Folhas Secas’.

Trio Mocoto, regarded by many as the ‘Fathers of Samba Soul’, initially found fame in 1969 as Jorge Ben’s backing band After a twenty-year absence, they released a new album in 2001, which was followed by Beleza! Beleza!! Beleza!!!

One of the few old school samba legends still active, Nelson Sargento was born in 1924, and he learned to play guitar from samba greats such as Cartola and Nelson Cavaquinho. His biggest success, ‘Agoniza Mas Nao Morre’, was released by Beth Carvalho in 1978, and became a hymn of resistance for the samba schools.

Born in 1942 in Iraja, Rio de Janeiro, Nei Lopes dedicated himself to literature and music, and the theme of the Afro-Brazilian experience is constantly present in his music and books. The track here, ‘Samba De Elegua, incorporates Cuban music influences as well as samba.

Paolo Bellinati, one of Brazil’s top contemporary guitarists and Mónica Salmaso revisited one of the great landmarks in Brazilian popular music in 1995 the album Afro-Sambas. ‘Canto De Ossanha’ has been arranged from the original 1966 album, on which poet Vinicius de Moraes and guitarist Baden Powell mixed bossa nova with the Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia.

Fernanda Porto’s version of the Tom Jobim classic ‘So Tinha De Ser Corn Voce’ was her commercial breakthrough. A multitalented artist, she mixes drum ‘n’ bass, bossa nova and MPB, with regional references and electronic music.

Sahan singer-songwriter Moises Santana mixes local Brazilian rhythms like samba, bossa nova, with rock funk and electronic music. Taken from his first album, ‘Alegria’ is a samba classic.

Born in Tijuca, in the north of Rio de Janeiro, Ed Motta’s music mixes MPB, soul and jazz, and during his career he has created a series of highly innovative and challenging albums.

Buy The Rough Guide To The Music Of Brazil: Rio De Janeir.