LATINO

Music of Brazil

Brazil, the fifth largest country in South America , is a land rich in history, mystique and exceptions to the rule. Founded as a Portuguese colony in 1500 that was later known as the Empire of Brazil, it became a republic in 1889 and is now known as the Federative Republic of Brazil. Its official language is Portuguese, which is spoken by nearly the entire population – and the only Portuguese-speaking nation in Latin America – making its natural and cultural identity very distinct from its Spanish-speaking neighbors. Brazilian Portuguese is also different from that spoken in Portugal . It is fitting that the Museum of the Portuguese Language in Brazil ‘s capital São Paulo is the first language museum in the world.

One of the founding members of the United Nations, Brazil is the world’s tenth largest economy and boasts a natural environment of unparalleled diversity and breathtaking geographic beauty, making it a great draw for international tourists seeking sun and beach and adventure forays into the Amazon Rainforest. But where Brazil really stands out in terms of its natural resources and cultural contribution to the world is music, specifically jazz. Although it can claim many fine classical composers, Brazil is where the great rhythm-and-beat styles of the samba, bossa nova, pagoda, frevo and many others found life.

“Watercolor of Brazil” (known in most English-speaking countries as simply “Brazil”), written in 1939 by politically militant composer Ary Barroso, became one of the most popular songs of all times and was the birth of the samba. Since then it has enjoyed innumerable recordings from Brazilian native musical artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto, but internationally as well by such legends as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney to still more recent versions by Placido Domingo, Dionne Warwick and the Ritchie Family. With the ballroom dancing craze fuelled by popular TV shows like “Dancing With the Stars,” the song ” Brazil ” and the samba have found a fresh generation of eager fans.

Arguably one of the most beloved and respected musicians of the 20/21st century is Brazil’s João Gilberto who rose to fame in the late 1950s when he slowed down the samba to work with his syncopated acoustic guitar. His cool, hip way of whispering lyrics made him an idol of U.S. beatniks and jazz artists alike, and he continues to inspire a new generation of pop artists like Gilberto Gil,Caetano Veloso and his own daughter Bebel Gilberto, now a star in her own right. But Gilberto’s place on the world jazz map was firmly stamped when a collaboration with songwriter Jobim, a fellow Brazilian, led them to record “Chega de Saudade” and create the bossa nova.

The bossa nova quickly became a craze in the United States and spread through the world after American jazz saxophone legend Stan Getz discovered the sound and recorded, amongst others, “The Girl From Ipanema” with Gilberto and his wife Astrud. Bossa nova-style jazz remained Getz’s icon sound until he died. Gilberto remains a superstar in Brazil and one of its greatest natural resources.

For more information on Brazil, visit http://www.brazilmicroblog.com and http://www.latinamicroblog.com.

About the Author

Daddy Yankee & JabbawockeeZ Billboard Latin Music Awards 23 04 2009 HD 1080i

Fajardo & his all Stars LP on Panart (Latin) $7.99

Alegre All Stars-Best Of…Latin Descargas ’60s CD $19.99

Fania All Stars-”Latin-Soul-Rock”-70s LATIN FUNK LP $29.99

SUPER CUBAN ALL STARS Made in the USA mint cd RARE OOP latin $2.99

Tico All Stars “Descargas Live At The Village Gate” Great Music-Jazz and latin. $0.99

TICO ALL STARS-DESCARGAS VOL.2 clean NM great copy LATIN $5.50

1 CENT CD: Ximena Sarinana s/t Latin pop star in English 2011 $0.01

Latin All Star Dance bands Latin Dance Party LP 12″ VG+ $0.50

Latin-Spanish 4-STAR 78/JUAN FLORER-Vocal w.Quartet/E+!-N.O.S $2.50

Fania All Stars 45 SALSA DANCER Mama Guela HEAR Viva Tirado Latin LOWRIDER SOUL $7.99

FANIA ALL STARS: Delicate And Jumpy (latin, vinyl) $20.00

STEVIE WONDER LATIN Fania All Stars SADE Gypsy Kings HEAR Bamboleo Rare Latin Lp $7.99

LATIN STEEL BY LONDON ALL STARS (CD) $20.19

Jazz on Latin Side All Stars , Audio CD, The Last Bullfighter $17.04

Mambo 5 Latin Lou & The Mambo All Stars Groove Records 1999-09-28 Single Music $5.09

FANIA ALL STARS: Desafig (latin, vinyl 45) $8.00

Fania All Stars LATIN SOUL ROCK Colon Harlow BarrettoLP $21.00

Latin Stars – Ismael Rivera (Karaoke CDG) $9.20

Tico Alegre All Stars at Carnegie Hall..Rare Latin $17.24

FANIA ALL STARS: Picadillo / Mono (latin vinyl 45) $8.00

LATIN JAM BOREE THE LATIN ALL STARS RRLPS 1021 $2.99

60s Latin Jazz TICO ALL-STARS Descargas At the Village Gate V3 NM TRSP-1155 $14.99

THE BLUE STARS – orig ’60 instrumental beat pop latin groove LP germany $9.00

ARIZONA STAR latin movie star 7″ b/w yes i’m naughty (uk109) uk uk 1975 $11.67

BELLE STARS another latin love song 7″ 4 trk ep b/w miss world, stop now and hav $11.67

BELLE STARS another latin love song 7″ promo but has dj writing on labels b/w ha $11.67

FANIA ALL STARS – LIVE AT THE CHEETAH VOL.1 – LATIN MUSIC LP $7.99

FANIA ALL STARS – COMMITMENT – LATIN MUSIC LP $7.99

LP- MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS ALL STARS .. “SEALED” $6.99

ALEGRE ALL STARS Perdido LP Descarga Latin Jazz Rumba Cuba $3.00

LATIN ALL STARS jazz heat bongo beat LP VG CST 187 $60.00

Antobal’s Latin All Stars Pachanga Original Brunswick BL 54104 LP Cuban US LP $30.00

Latin Lou & The Mambo All Stars , Audio CD, Mambo 5 $3.89

TITO PUENTE ALFREDITO TITO RODRIGUEZ MACHITO LATIN cha-cha GUEST STAR LP $1.97

Jose Jose Spanish Karaoke Latin Stars CD+G 019 $4.95

Rocio Durcal Spanish Karaoke Latin Stars CD+G 005 $4.95

Pimpinela Spanish Karaoke Latin Stars CD+G 064 $4.95

Vicente Fernandez Spanish Karaoke Latin Stars CD+G 034 $4.95

Jose Luis Perales Spanish Karaoke Latin Stars CD+G 117 $4.95