South American music and culture magazine

Jorge Continentino describes himself as a saxophonist and flutist, but he regularly draws on his piano and guitar-playing skills when he’s writing original music. Jorge got an early start, leaving his hometown of Rio de Janeiro at just eighteen years of age to tour and record with some of the biggest names in Brazilian popular music, like Marisa Monte and Milton Nascimento. His nearly fifteen-years as a musician in Brazil laid the groundwork for a successful career now based in New York City, where Jorge blends traditional forró music from Northeastern Brazil with jazz, rock and folk in one-of-a-kind compositions. One of his groups, Forró in the Dark, has toured North America and Europe but is most at home presiding over the late night Brazilian parties every Wednesday at Nublu in New York’s East Village. The group also appears on the Red Hot + Rio 2 album. In addition to Forró in the Dark, Jorge is involved with numerous cutting-edge projects and collaborations that he described in our interview below. Continue Reading

This year Lucas Santtana‘s Sem Nostalgia was released in the UK and other parts of the world. It’s his fourth album and continues a legacy of post-modern music that began with 2000′s Eletro Ben Dodô. When that album was released it seemed as if Santtana’s star was definitely on the rise on the worldwide music scene. Unfortunately things have moved slower than that. However, Sem Nostalgia could well be the album that allows him the world’s attention. We take a look back at all of his albums from his 10+ years in the business. Continue Reading

This isn’t the first time Sounds and Colours have written about Banda Black Rio, and after listening to their new album, I am sure this won’t be the last. Banda Black Rio first experienced success in the 70s but stopped in the early 80s due to its leader’s, Oberdan Magalhaes, tragic death. However, the importance of Banda Black Rio was never forgotten and Oberdan’s son, William Magalhaes put the pieces together, formed a new group and continued the band’s legacy. The new album Super Nova Samba Funk proves that William’s effort to keep the band alive has definitely paid off. Continue Reading

Composer, singer, songwriter and pianist, Eliane Elias is the perfect example of a Brazilian artist that has had a successful career outside Brazil. Based in New York, she has recorded more than 20 albums, containing a mix of English and Portuguese lyrics, though always crucially with a Brazilian vibe. Continue Reading

Accompanied by highly percussive drumming, the ritualistic ceremonies of the Afro-Brazilian candomblé religion have distinctly shaped the musical soundscape of Brazil, influencing many contemporary styles such as the samba and bossa nova. Continue Reading

For many people Os Mutantes are their entrance into Brazilian music. It was something that happened to me after hearing a cover of “Minha Menina” and wondering who had written this perfect pop tune. I then got completely hooked on the psychedelic world of fiery riffs, playful vocals and their love of parody. Continue Reading

World Music Charts Europe have just released their list of the most-listened to World Music artists of 2010, according to European radio stations that is. There are quite a few latin artists featured here including Choc Quib Connection’s Oro, CéU’s Vagarosa, Afrocubism and Luisa Maita’s Lero-Lero in the top 20. Continue Reading

Tropicália is a style of music from Brazil, beginning in the late 60s, when a group of art students, writers and musicians, inspired by the work of modern artists such as Helio Oiticica and progressive theatre (especially Oswald de Andrade‘s O Rei da Vela), decided the time was right for a new musical framework. Manifesto Antropófago (Cannibal Manifesto) had the biggest effect. The manifesto, which was published in 1928 and written by Oswald de Andrade, states that Brazil is at its best when it is cannibalising other cultures, taking in their music, art and literature and producing something that is both better and uniquely Brazilian. Continue Reading

Formed in 1976, Banda Black Rio is one of the most important names of Brazilian music history. Being one of the pioneers of a new music genre that began to fuse samba with soul music, Banda Black Rio was also among the leaders of a new social and cultural movement called Movimento Black Rio, which was inspired by the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Continue Reading

Quite a few of the artists we’ve been featuring on the site have recently been nominated for Latin Grammy awards. CéU has perhaps received the prestigious nomination of Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album, Banda de Turistas are up for both Best Alternative Music and Best Rock Song, Choc Quib Town are down for Best Alternative Song, Gilberto Gil has managed to squeeze in a couple of nominations, as has Alex Cuba and Andres Calamaro, and Maria Bethania is competing for the daddy of them all, the Record of the Year gong. Here are the nominations in full:
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After ten years Rock in Rio festival is back to the city that gives name to the event. In the last decade, Madrid and Lisbon had the privilege to have their own editions of one of the biggest music events in the world. Now, it is time again for Rio de Janeiro to host the 4th edition of Rock in Rio festival in 2011, as recently announced by businessman and creator of the festival Roberto Medina and Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes.
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