Brejeiro: The Choro music of Brazil

Tonight sees a re-launch of the band Brejeiro with a new look line-up, playing the uplifting acoustic music of South America.
Brejeiro will transport you to Brazil through the sunshine and sparkle of Brazilian Choro music. An infectious and uplifting mix of mandolins and guitar propelled by Latin percussion, Brejeiro combine driving rhythms and haunting melodies, skilfully improvised and exquisitely arranged, capturing the essence of Brazil. From its roots in folk song and the pulsating rhythms of the Samba the music encapsulates the fusion of South American Latin rhythms, North American jazz and the evolution of the mandolin and its music from Portugal.

It is strange for such joyous music to be called Choro, which quite literally translates as "to cry". It was born in the middle of the 19th century when musicians began experimenting by fusing together Brazilian folk tunes and European harmony with Afro-Brazilian and native rhythms.

Often described as Brazilian jazz, Choro became the music of the people and spread throughout Brazil. "This music is ageless", says trumpeter Silverio Pontes. "In a Choro group, one is 70, another 15, and the third 40 ... This music is... like a communion. For they all are taking part in this great thing that's already over 100 years old. That is fantastic."

Brejeiro respectfully walk in the footsteps of this unique tradition adding their own unique line up of twin mandolins leading and weaving delicate harmony, pulsating guitar and innovative percussion. 'La Llorona' celebrates the music of Brazilian composer Pixinguinha, recognised as one of the greatest flute players and improvisors of his generation, and the virtuoso mandolin player and composer, Jacob do Bandolim along with Mike Pryor's original composition 'La Frontiera' adding a contemporary flavour.

Choro may have begun over 150 years ago but it is still very alive today and still evolving.
Dave Griffiths (Mandolin and Cavaquinho)
Mike Pryor (Mandolin and Cavaquinho)
Rachel Parede (Flute)
Knud Stuwe (Guitar)
Andy Fuller (Percussion)
http://jazzata.com/Gig88.html