The first Sunday in December is traditionally the day when our family decorates our Christmas tree (the outside decorations are handled ‘weather permitting’… I love the ritual but I’m no glutton for wintry challenges, thank you), and this year was no exception.

Turns out we were in good company.

Farther south – to the point where even La Nina appears artic - thousands of people turned out in Rio de Janeiro for the lighting of the world’s largest floating Christmas tree in the Brazilian city’s Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. Here’s a slide show and you can check out the video here.

A concert, featuring master of ceremonies Jose Mayer and singer Simone, officially inaugurated the Christmas celebrations Saturday in the city, which will conclude the holiday season with a big party on New Year’s Eve.

Of course, Rio is the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games and will offer a huge concert and fireworks on December 31st, with residents and visitors ringing in 2010 on Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo and Leblon beaches.

The 85-meter (278-foot) floating tree, adorned with 2.9 million lights and 1,600 Christmas ornaments, required 52 kilometers (32 miles) of cables to light.

A 40-member youth choir and the 56-member Barra Mansa symphonic band provided the background music for Saturday’s lighting ceremony. The floating Christmas tree has its own sound system, playing Christmas music recorded in Italy until Three Kings’ Day on Jan. 6.

By the way – in case you’re wondering - the 520-ton tree has already made it into the Guinness World Records as the largest tree of its kind in the world. Examiner.com

My Brazilian Music Pick of the Day

Simply put, pianist Lori Mecham’s ‘Brazilian Christmas’ is one of our favorite Brazilian-themed holiday CDs – a beautifully crafted instrumental set which combines the natural elegance of the Bossa beat with the quiet charm of these end-of-year evergreens.

This album plays like new fallen snow and Mechem (who is a stalwart of the Nashville music scene and a big Brazilian music fan) leads this talent-laden group through a well ordered play list of well-known favorites plus a few originals. The recording quality is top notch and the light, jazzy arrangements are filled with enough surprises to keep you smiling throughout the holidays.

Musically, Brazil shares its Christmas traditions with many of our modern American and old-world European melodies. How interesting that producer Jeff Steinberg would understand that by blending the warmth of Brazil with the crispness of a Christmas morning it would result in the perfect atmosphere for our holiday season!

Released too late in the 2005 season for us to include in our Connectbrazil.com e-store, this CD was nevertheless a standout favorite during our annual ‘A Brazilian Christmas’ webcasts and its debut here marks the beginning of a long love affair with fans of Brazilian music around the world.  

Weekend’s here, and I hope you’ll find some time to enjoy our webcasts when you’re ready to relax - click here for access to our three top-rated channels. On The Sounds of Brazil, we’ll welcome Ed Johnson, leader of the group Novo Tempo back to our studio as part of our month-long look at ‘Our Favorite Things’! In many ways, Ed Johnson typifies the essence of this month’s theme. The California-based singer and guitarist carries the influence of Brazil’s best. He’ll bring along his list of favorite Brazilian jazz songs, along with a few stories of his own life in music. Great fun!

Ed’s music builds on the influence of several top Brazilian songwriters, including Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento and Djavan. Johnson’s jazz is thoroughly American, but his point of view starts further south; looking over the musical shoulders of these giants of MPB. As a songwriter he shares their penchant for writing melodies which frame epic storylines: The tales that follow his songs unfold chapter and verse in the lyrics of these tunes. Enjoy!

Our playlist is filled with jazzy songs from Cafe Jam, Deodato and Torcuato Mariano and even a Bi-lingual duet from Ben Harper and Vanessa da Matta! Plus Bossa-tinged seasonal favs by guitarist Jeff Linskey and flutist Herbie Mann with Steve Barta’s piano. And to top off this pre-Christmas treat - Ed Johnson had teamed up with singer Jennifer Scott to create a thoroughly Brazilian version of Hark The Herald Angels Sing - with a Partido Alto back beat. Best of all, it’s a gift to you and a free download. Just type keyword ED - and enjoy!

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Worth the wait:

Backstage with Bebel Gilberto is like watching a butterfly with a short attention span – the Green Room held perhaps a dozen people, and Bebel’s focus moved lightly between them. Time for a photo, then turning with smile to autograph a CD cover for a fan, then across the room to chat with the Shure microphone reps; over to the fruit table for a quick nibble and then back to her manager’s side for the briefest question and then off again for another round.

On stage, Bebel’s persona snaps into place – her trademark smile and playful femininity are a constant presence as she coos through a set of her favorite songs. As I written previously, Bebel – in her own way – is as musically adventurous as is her legendary father Joao Gilberto. And when compared to her dad, Bebel is positively gregarious.

Wednesday’s show at Park West in Chicago was a sold-out affair and everyone agreed that it was great to have her back in our neck of the woods again. Hopefully Bebel won’t keep us waiting so long for the next show! We’re still giving away tickets for her US concert tour, so sign up today to win by clicking here.

Meanwhile check out her CDs at Connectbrazil.com.

Worth the drive:

One of my favorite treats when in Rio is Brazilian pizza. Much different than our American versions, pizza in Brazil is much closer to the real Italian intent – a delicious thin crust ornamented with a variety of tasty - and sometimes unusual – combinations of meats, fresh veggies and cheeses.

In Copacabana, I head for Caravalle, a block or two off the beach near the Pestana Rio Atlantica. If you have time for a cab ride along Avenida Niemeyer to the Sheraton Rio in Leblon, try the wood oven-fired pizzas at the hotel’s outdoor hillside café. Marvelous.

If you’re in Chicago, there’s no need to update your passport: just head to the north side’s Fogo 2 Go, a mostly walk-in/carry-out storefront which boasts an excellent menus of authentic, delicious honest-to-gawd Brazilian pizzas. I give it my heartiest recommendation – with dozens of pizzas to choose from, let me suggest the Portuguesa, or the Calebresa, or better yet order them both and get a special deal. Here’s another Brazilian/American business in Chicago which deserves your support. Fogo 2 Go, 926 W Diversey Avenue (between Mildred Ave & Wilton Ave) Chicago, IL 60614. (773) 880-8052.

My Brazilian Music Pick of The Day

Spend a few minutes with this CD and you’ll quickly get the idea that Brazilian producer and singer Franco Sattamini loves Christmas. It comes through in every aspect of this album, from his artfully textured arrangements and production, to the song selection and the special guests he’s invited to join him on this holiday romp.

All of this passion has resulted in a seasonally spectacular recording, with more than enough musical treats to fill even the biggest fireplace stocking.

In fact, this Brazilian Christmas CD is unlike any Brazilian Christmas CD you’ve ever heard. Franco makes that our favorite classics are here; ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and ‘Jingle Bells’ receive a thoroughly Brazilian touch, and the tight harmonies that frame his version of ‘Silent Night’ are as inspiring as the story itself. There’s a real sense of artistic respect that flows through the songs, and that’s a minor miracle itself, considering the constant wave of new Christmas albums released each and every year.

Franco’s style gives a wink and a nod to contemporary pop, smooth jazz and urban undertones – just enough of each to make his Brazilian rhythms really come alive. And that’s as it should be: Brazil’s Christmas traditions don’t extend to original carols – most of what Brazilians enjoy musically for the holidays are the same song we’ve grown up with.

Postwar America gave us many of our favorite pop tunes for the season (although ‘White Christmas’ was written to comfort the troops in WWII), and many of them benefit from Franco’s transcontinental treatment: ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Let It Snow’, ‘Santa Baby’ and ‘The Christmas Song’ are reborn in surprising and satisfying ways.

Even more surprising is the guest list to this little holiday get-together. Torcuato Mariano with Mariana de Moraes, Bossa master Roberto Menescal with Cris Delanno, jazz sax man Phil Woods, Danilo Caymmi, Café, pianist Luis Avelllar, Cristina Ribero and Claudio Nucci, guitarist Romero Lubambo – the lineup is nothing short of incredible!

In many ways, this album is intoxicating – we wouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself coming back to it again and again, year after year. ‘Christmas in Rhythm & Bossa’ – what could be better?   How about a seasonally special low price – this weekend only!

Even with one of the mildest Novembers in decades, Chicago is never far away from a wintery change in the weather, so - with the threat of our first snow of the season threatening – I’ve moved my daily walking regime indoors to the local mega mall.

Crazed and confused shoppers aside, the real downside of places like this in December is the music: the most insipid Christmas songs piped incessantly through tinny loudspeakers 40 feet above your head. The Eagles singing ‘Jungle Bell Rock’. Alvin & The Chipmonks. What’s next? “Headbanging Holiday Hits”? Too much.

Or not enough. That’s why cranked up my wireless 3G network on my smart phone and clicked over to our online radio shows via Live365.com via an excellent pair of Bluetooth stereo headhones. With three 24/7 channels to choose from: The Sounds of Brazil (which is the webstream version of our syndicated weekly radio show), The Sounds of Brazil ‘Extended’ Channel and the ‘Brazilian Christmas’ channel – you should try them, too. Available when you become a VIP Member - anywhere in the world, anytime.

For me –its all the difference. Those 10,000 steps my doc says I need breezed right on by. Brazilian jazz makes it easy.

We’re beginning to wind down our huge supply of tickets to Bebel Gilberto in concert – a Connectbrazil.com exclusive contest covering 15 US cities – so if you haven’t sign up yet, be sure to do it now, or you just may be left out. I’ll catch her Chicago show tonight and maybe get the chance to chat backstage – I’ll give you my ‘dois centavos’ tomorrow!

My Brazilian Music Pick of The Day:

Here’s a great album for walking, jogging or for doing nothing at all – a perfect combination of Bossa classics, perfectly ordered – and specially priced for the holidays!

Not so long ago, Brazilian movie soundtracks fell into two categories. There were albums filled with original music like Caetano Veloso’s ‘Tieta Do Agreste’ and ‘The Devil’s Toothpick’, which featured Kenia, Gilberto Gil and others. Then there were those like ‘Next Stop Wonderland’ that were filled with classics and played like Brazilian music primers. This wonderful 15-song disc, from the even more wonderful film, is a combination of both new music and classic Bossa Nova.

‘Bossa Nova” (the movie) is dedicated to Antonio Carlos Jobim and his classics dominate these proceedings. Eumir Deodato wrote the original score. Of course, these are the only two Brazilians ever to have arrangements to top the American pop charts.

Their collective musical genius is so evident through the film, but is just briefly resonated on this album, particularly on the first three tracks. Those tunes are Deodato’s arrangements of Jobim compositions featuring vocalists Barbara Mendes, Carol Rogers and Djavan. The highlight of which is a brilliant compact 69 seconds version of One Note Samba. The Girl From Ipanema, and Jobim himself, are a part of the movie’s story line, however, the original Stan Getz/JoaoGilberto /Jobim classic is not in the film, but is featured on the soundtrack. In fact there are a number of Jobim’s original recordings from Verve Records’ vaults that are contained either on celluloid and/or on the disc. The great duet, Waters of March, with Jobim and Elis Regina is included, as is Jobim’s versions of Wave, Corcovado and No More Blues.

While those session can only enhance any compilation that they appear on, a complaint could be made that so many of Deodato’s original and timely cues from the movie, not to mention an incredible acid jazz version of One Note Samba, should’ve been included on the soundtrack album.

Deodato’s work on the soundtrack begins and ends the album. His jazzy piano playing and dreamy arrangements are superb, and much more subdued than his aggressive jazz/pop hits of the 70’s. You may remember him from his gargantuan 1972 number one hit, Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001). But his beautiful song Suddenly, written with frequent Jobim collaborator, Norman Gimbel, should change that. The very memorable melody is used quite effectively in the movie, and there are three outstanding versions on the album, including one by newcomer Claudia Acuna.

If you haven’t seen the movie that so cleverly mixes English and Portuguese, this soundtrack, rightfully so, comes off as a flawlessly sequenced album that in itself is a vivid colorful and aurally pleasing DVD.

Our first day of the final month of the year brings a preview of an unusual idea – an Internet-based scavenger hunt.

To be honest, I was never very good at those things… I always seemed to be looking left when I should have been glancing right. But, since I’va always been a curious guy, I thought that mxing up the hunt with music, people and places would not only result in a fun way to kill some end-of-year time at work, but it also might inspire you to learn more about one of my favorite cities.

We’re still working on the details, but the site will be the city of Rio de Janeiro and you’ll need to be sharp with your Google search skills to successfully complete the hunt and be eligible for some pretty cool prizes from our Connectbrazil.com prize closet!

This should be a lot of fun, so watch this page for more. Soon!

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We’re getting rave reviews for this year’s edition of our ‘Brazilian Christmas’ webcast. It’s our 12^th year of broadcasting and webcasting an unending variety of Brazilian and Brazilian-inspired carols in Portuguese and English, liberally sprinkeled with jazzy instrumentals, too. The music comes from all over the world, but the focus is Brazil. You’ll find it by typing keyword CHRISTMAS at Connectbrazil.com, or by clicking here.

This year also marks another chance to support the Dreams Can Be Foundation, a Brazilian/American children’s charity based in Rio. I would consider it a personal favor if you would visit their website and make a donation. I know that it’s been a tough year for all of us, but I can think of about 100,000 Brazilian kids who would be endlessly happy to share in the lives we live here in the US, and your thoughtful donation really can make a difference.

Thank you.

My Brazilian Music Pick of the Day:

Even during Christmas, Samba is the signature sound of the season in Rio de Janeiro (as we fall into winter, Brazil rises to celebrate summer), and here’s a hand-picked favorite for you to add to your collection:

Fueled by years of experience in the recording studios, the musicians of Toque de Prima have hit their stride with their second album. It is a meticulously recorded joyful noise that strictly adheres to the Samba rhythms throughout all 15 tracks. But, along with special guests, Joyce, Ivan Lins and Luizinho SP, the band does take detours through various other Brazilian musical landscapes along the way.

Even before Carlinhos Cordas pointed northeast by bellowing `Baiana de Salvador’ towards the end of the second track, “Beira D’Agua,” it’s obvious from the start of this album that one of the underlying themes of this release is the exploration of modern samba from urban regions throughout Brazil, not just the slick Carioca style.

Not only is this a talented sextet of musicians, but the group has incredible vocal chops at their command too. Three of the first four tracks on the album serve as introductions to the strongest vocalists in the band, and a wonderful trio of female background singers augments each member. These three pieces also set the production tone for the album too, as each track is lavished in a lush sound design that is surrounded by a wall of percussion, and all those voices coming together.

Cordas may be the best vocalist, but they’re all very good. However the guests on the album are on a different level, and each one brought their A-game to these sessions. Each of the four guests on the album are highly distinctive stylists who manage to directly interject their sound into this group, while the band maintain their own.

From the first staccato pick-up notes of “Briga De Casal” (the tune with Joyce) on through the jerky arrangement and the conversation at the end with the group’s bassist and vocalist Dininho, everything about the track makes up the uniqueness that is Joyce, yet the essence of the band remains.

The same applies for the songs with vocalists Zeca Pagodinho and Ivan Lins, both of who brought their own compositions to the mix. And it should be pointed out that Lins’ Bossa-tinged tune, Brasil 500, is an incredible tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim that proves that the singer’s massive talent as a composer continues to grow.

Se Tem Que Ser Sera is the kind of album that the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce should hand out to tourists as mementos of their visit to the land of the Samba. This is 21st century Brazilians Samba in all its up-tempo, feel-good, toe-tapping, body-jolting glory.

Welcome back! It’s always a challenge to get back in the groove after Thanksgiving, so I’ll do my best to smooth out the bumps on this Cyber-Monday for you.

Along with plenty of great tunes – including a seasonal Samba or two, watch for a breezy brace of Cyber-Monday specials from Connectbrazil.com – the year’s lowest prices on all of your favorite Brazilian CDs, DVDs, books and more.

Just be sure that you’re following us on Twitter by clicking here – otherwise you won’t know about ‘em as we make our special announcements throughout the day. And of course, more Bebel Gilberto concert tickets to give away too. Are you registered to win?

While we could spend a word or two on the subject, Thanksgiving Day is more or less just another Thursday in Brazil, there’s always something musical to add to just about any day in Brazil: For instance, yesterday was songwriter/producer Nelson Motta’s birthday, and today we celebrate with another candle for Miucha, former wife of João Gilberto, mother of Bebel Gilberto and one of Brazil’s classic Bossa Nova singers. Did you know that she is also sister to the legendary singer/poet/songwriter Chico Buarque? Feliz Anniversário to both – listen for their songs on The Sounds of Brazil ‘Extended’ Channel today!

And here’s a reminder for our ‘Brazilian Christmas’ channel with our holiday blend of Carioca-styled carols in Portuguese, English and insturmental jazz 24/7 through New Year’s Day. It’s free at Connectbrazil.com keyword CHRISTMAS.

All of this leads me to today’s pick in honor of Miucha, and perhaps her best-known album in the US. Read on – you’re in for a treat!

Brazilian Music Pick of The Day

Thirteen years after recording the legendary ‘Getz/Gilberto’ album, Stan Getz revived to the notion of returning to the studio for another Brazilian project. By 1976 the musical landscape had endured the seismic shift brought on by Rock’s British Invasion – in fact, the Beatles (the one group that ended the above-named album’s 96 week run on the Billboard charts) were already consigned to history by the time Getz began laying down the tracks for this recording.

Fusion was on the rise, and the spotlight had shifted away from the old school style of straight ahead jazz to include new directions: jazz funk from Miles Davis, jazz fusion from Chick Corea and Return to Forever, and jazz pop from Grover Washington Jr. and Creed Taylor’s CTI roster.

Things had changed for Getz, too. He’d left producer Creed Taylor behind and began to trade labels, from Verve to Milestone and eventually to Columbia where he paired up with arguably one of the jazz world’s top producers of the day – Teo Macero – for this album.

Generally overlooked at the time of its release, ‘The Best of Two Worlds’ is a jazzy masterpiece that builds on Getz’s clutch of Bossa Nova recordings in the early 60s by reuniting the saxophonist with Brazilian vocalist João Gilberto and his wife singing in English and Portuguese with songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim. But that’s where the resemblance ends.

In place of the intimate course set by ‘Getz/Gilberto’ producer Taylor, Teo Macero allows Getz to expand the jazzier side of his play. Instead of Astrud Gilberto (João’s first wife), we’re treated to Miucha (João’s second wife), whose U.S. debut on this recording introduced many of us to new subtleties of Brazilian charm. Her genuine vocal warmth contrasted nicely against the pop appeal of Astrud’s recordings, which had failed to keep pace with the changing musical scene.

Oscar Castro-Neves contributes the arrangements for each of these 10 tracks along with his rhythm guitar play, while American jazzers took hold of the rhythm section to provide another contrast to the ‘Getz/Gilberto’ album, where Brazilians were brought together to anchor the rhythm section behind the tenor sax play. Here the group is led by pianist Albert Daily, drummer Grady Tate and Steve Swallow’s bass. Airto Moreira returned from his participation on Getz’s 1972 album ‘Captain Marvel’ to anchor the percussion play.

Perhaps this album suffered by comparison due to the culture-changing success of ‘Getz/Gilberto’ a decade and a half earlier. Maybe the critics of the day expected a continuation instead of the ‘next installment’ – who knows what Downbeat was thinking at the time?

The best thing about ‘The Best of Two Worlds’ is that the musical relationship between Stan Getz and João Gilberto (which was forged in part by fire and steel in their first meetings in 1963) had matured by the time this album was recorded. Several of these songs came from Gilberto’s highly celebrated self-titled album from a few years earlier and receive similar treatment: ‘Falsa Bahiana’ swings Brazilian, allowing the saxophonist free reign to interpret Geraldo Pereira’s wonderful melody while ‘Izaura’ and Jobim’s ‘Águas De Março’ add English lyrics to balance the original Portuguese.

Other Jobim standards predominate the playlist here: There’s ‘Double Rainbow’ with Miucha singing in English, ‘Ligia’ features a wonderful duet between the two headliners, and the mistitled ballad ‘Retrato em Branco e Preto’, co-written by Miucha’s brother, Chico Buarque. João Gilberto’s solo guitar contributes a rare original with ‘João Marcello’ and Cole Porter’s ‘Just One Of Those Things’ wraps up the album.

What we like best about this CD is that this thoroughbred line-up delivers, and Stan Getz’s solos are worthy of comparison to any from ‘Getz/Gilberto’. But here again the differences can be appreciated – Macero’s direction opens up the saxophonist’s sound and ups the tempo for many of these tunes, which when driven along by drummers Tate and Hart, and Airto’s percussion, move the cadence from Bossa to Samba without missing a beat.

This would be Stan and João’s last studio date together. As masters of their individual domains, each brought their best qualities to this recording, making ‘The Best of Two Worlds’ a stellar choice for your collection.  

Well, this was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. When I sat down this morning to put together my list of three favorite female Brazilian singers, I thought “This’ll be a breeze!”

Not so fast, Caboclo Kid.

Problem is… where to start? Gal Costa is a favorite, and I love Joanna’s pop/rock ballads a la Michael Sullivan. But the, there’s Zizi Possi, Joyce, Astrud Gilberto and Elis Regina (although I’ve found it curious that Elis’s prominence has faded somewhat in recent years).

And I couldn’t forget Patricia Talem. Or Marisa Monte, or Bebel Gilberto. And Leila Pinheiro!

See the problem I’ve run into here? (Rita Lee, Maria Bethania, Ivete Sangalo).

Name only three favorite Brazilian Divas? From a country that’s given us a plethora – that’s a special Thanksgiving Day word – of great voices, including Kenia, Rosa Passos, Alcione, Gracinha Leporance, Eliane Elias, Paula Morelenbaum, Marcela Mangabeira, Rosalia de Souza, Camen Miranda and Tania Maria ?

Three, huh… can’t do it – you try. Click on the links for these singers, listen and enjoy.

Then share your top three with me – right here on this page.

My Brazilian Music Pick of the Day:

As one of her final appearances in a recording studio, Sarah Vaughn’s ‘Brazilian Romance’ is undeniably elegant and sophisticated. As it should be with the stable of talent assembled: Sergio Mendes producing, Dori Caymmi’s strings and arrangements and Milton Nascimento as a special guest.

Vaughan, who had two previous Brazilian recordings to her credit, constantly redefines the subtle, beautiful and powerful nature of her music. The songs are wisely chosen and even at this late stage of her career Sarah was in fine voice. Whether she was singing pop or dishing out her tantalizing jazz vocals, Sarah brought everything she touched to life with her rich, luscious voice and exquisite musical phrasing.

Some of the outstanding tracks on this album include ‘It’s Simple’, The Mendes hit ‘So Many Stars’ and ‘Your Smile’, with its catchy pop hook. Dori Caymmi contributes four more, including his ‘Obsession’ and there’s a pair of Nascimento tunes: ‘Make This City Ours Tonight’ and ‘Nothing Will Be As It Was’. ‘Love & Passion’ is a richly rewarding duet with Milton Nascimento – their vocals are remarkable complimentary, even more so considering that Milton’s voice was recorded separately in Rio de Janeiro at the Transamerica studios.

This recording is filled with great moments, and while Vaughan’s relationship with Brazilian music was not well known in jazz circles, its obvious in her performances here that she carried a special empathy with the style. Here’s a CD that truly live up to its billing.  

How is your day going? Thanks for listening to our webcast channels and for taking a few minutes of your day to stop by My Page today.

Although the Thanksgiving holiday is best known here in the US and Canada, setting aside a day of gratitude around harvest time is not limited to North America. For instance the country of Grenada celebrates Thanksgiving in late October to commemorate US military assistance in 1983.

Brazil has its own Thanksgiving Day, and just as with ours, it is observed on the fourth Thursday of November. But the similarity pretty much ends there.

Unlike our Thanksgiving, Brazil’s Dia de Ação de Graças is not a secular or nessessarily celebratory day – and may Brazilians are compeletley unaware of the day or its meaning: no family get-togethers – Brazilians are encouraged to attend special Masses at church, or to attend Day of Grace rallys  and to contemplate the ‘Action of Grace’ in their perosnal lives. And Brazilian Turkeys – called Peru -get a big break, too. They are off the menu until Chirstmas.

In Brazil, President Gaspar Dutra established the National Day of Thanksgiving in August 1949. In 1966, Brazil established that the celebration of Thanksgiving would be the fourth Thursday of November.

And although there in no real football on TV, there’s connection to the US day of thanks: This date is celebrated by many families of American origin, the Christian churches, Universities, religious Methodists and English-speaking Brazilians.

Now you know a little bit more about Brazil and Thanksgiving day!

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Brazilian Music Pick of the Day

To my way of thinking, there’s nothing quite like the sound of an acoustic solo guitar to inspire contemplation and… thankfulness. This album is one of the best.

Lira Brasiliera further defines Paulo Bellinati’s talent as a force in acoustic Brazilian guitar. His songs carry a brilliance that is immediately apparent. Likened by many to the best musical qualities of Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Bellinati carries the rich, folkloric traditions of the Brazilian guitar to an invigorating, contemporary plateau. A rainbow of Brazilian musical style is found within these 15 selections: Samba and its predecessor, Maxixe; Frevo and Lundu rhythms from the Northeast; Bossa Nova and Canção; and the country rhythms of Seresta and Baião; Valsa Brasiliera and the Latin influence of the Bolero.

The final word belongs to Antonio Carlos Jobim: Bellinati charms “the subtleties of classical music blended with the popular music idiom.”  I agree, and I expect that you will too. It’s the perfect choice for a quiet day of relaxation.

Smiling today?

Mondays are always welcome when they’re at the start a holiday week. Yep, most of us will put in a hard couple of days at work (researching Black Friday bargains on line?) then we’ll sneak out after lunch on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving weekend.

But here, our staff has a lot to before thoughts of roasted Turkey gets the best of us: getting our annual ‘Brazilian Christmas’ webcast channel up and running for its Thursday debut, plus slashing prices and getting our specials ready for our own Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Watch for ‘em in your e-mail box on these two days – plus a bunch of ‘Twitter-Only’ offers, too. If you haven’t signed up with us yet, why not do it now? Here’s our email link and here’s our Twitter link.

I can tell you right now that we’ll be giving away Brazilian books, CDs and DVD’s to lucky winners on both days, plus you’ll also be automatically registered to win pairs of tickets to Bebel Gilberto’s coast-to-coast US concert tour – and also for The Sounds of Brazil ‘Extended’ Channel!

Who else does these kinds of things for Brazilian music fans?

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Today is Brazilian singer, songwriter and producer Carlinhos Brown’s birthday. He got his start as a percussionist and songwriter with Caetano Veloso, then became internationally recognized while heading the group Timbalada in Bahia’ and then hooked up with Sergio Mendes for the Bossa legend’s Grammy-winning ‘Brasileiro’ album. Billboard magazine named him the ‘Best Record Producer’ in Latin American and he’s also worked with MPB singer Marisa Monte to form the super group Tribalistas in 2006.

I’ll be playing a few of my favorite songs by Brown today on The Sounds of Brazil ‘Extended’ Channel – hope you can catch them. Feliz Anniversario!

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We’ve been putting lots of extended hours into our ‘Extended’ webcast channel these past few weeks – basically reinventing it from the ground up - and this weekend we began putting the finishing touches on the upgrade. Spend some time with it and tell me what you think? I’d love to hear from you with feedback and suggestions. Thanks in advance.

My Brazilian Music ‘Pick of the Day’

And in honor of the birthday boy… here’s the story behind his 1996 debut album as a solo performer:

We’re not quite sure how to say “The hardest working man in show business” in Portuguese, but Carlinhos Brown is surely it. ‘Alfagamabetizado’ is a masterwork, where African rhythms, Brazilian Candomble’ chants and the latest sampling technology blend together.

Recorded in Rio, Salvador and Paris, ‘Alfagamabetizado’ is an adventure to unite cultures through music in its most innovative forms. Brown marries traditional with futuristic, frenzied rhythms with soft melodies, big band swing with electric fuzz guitar. This isn’t ‘The Girl from Ipanema;. More like The Girl from Ipanema Goes Night Clubbing.

Or is it? Check out “Frases Ventias” with it’s gentle water drums and breezy melody. Marisa Monte and saxophonist Leo Gandelman deliver a delightful cha-cha on “Seo Ze’,” and “Quixabeira” reunites Veloso, Gil, Costa and Maria Bethania.

The ensuing years have shown his solo recordings to be uneven, but through it all, Carlinhos Brown has maintained his sense of purpose: ”Brazil synthesizes Africa and Hollywood. My pleasure is to blend all this music into one.”

In our opinion, ‘Alfagamabetizado’ has stood well the test of time, making it one of his best recordings from beginning to end. As a result, it has also become something of a collector’s item, as copies of this recording can be difficult to find.

Get to know more about Carlinhos Brown and his debut album here.

Here’s memorable weekend tale which happens to also dovetail nicely with my Brazilian Music Pick of The Day:

You can’t go to Rio for your first time without a visit to the top of the Corcovado mountain – the statue of Jesus, known at Cristo Redentor stands nearly half a mile above the beach districts of Zona Sul, making it the highest natural viewing platform overlooking a city in the world. Not to be missed.

That’s the backdrop for the CD cover art for Bill Cunliffe and his first foray into the world of contemporary Brazilian jazz called ‘Bill In Brazil’. In a country where guitar players seem to flow like water, the piano’s natural acoustic timber has come to enhance the compelling melodic qualities of contemporary Brazilian Instrumental music.

Cunliffe obviously enjoy what he does, and the fact that he is relaxed and smiling on the album cover belies the fact that this recording almost didn’t happen at all. The liner notes tell the complete story – a great read, by the way – but suffice to say that when you are ready to embark on your first visit to Brazil, don’t make the same mistake Bill Cunliffe did – make sure to have your visa.

In this case, the phrase “can’t leave home without it” rings eerily true, but in the end it all worked out, and it’s our good fortune to enjoy the satisfying results.

Recorded both in Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro, Cunliffe’s role call of musician’s for this project helped to insure the album’s quality. Guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves makes a cameo appearance, along with percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, pianist Marcos Ariel and drummers Joe La Barbera and Alex Acuna. ‘Bill In Brazil’ strikes just the right balance between creative whimsy and musical wisdom. Cunliffe’s forte is his melodic development and tonal texturing, both in the six original songs included here, as well as with his improvisational skill.

Bill Cunliffe’s delicate shading on Paul Simon’s ‘She Moves On’ provides a striking contrast to the solo which follows, and Cunliffe’s reflective reading on Caetano Veloso’s ‘Saudosismo’ is the perfect invitation to a Brazilian romp through his own “Samba Feliz.”

While Cunliffe’s original material is predictably jazzier, his sense of balance always dictates the results. Songs such as ‘Long Time Coming’ (with guitarist Ricardo Silveira laying down some of his best work in several years) and ‘Leblon’ are sure to become favorites, and his covers of classics such as Antonio Carlos Jobim’s ‘Surfboard’, Luis Bonfa’s ‘Gentle Rain’ and ‘Cast Your Fate To The Wind’ are satisfying elements that help to create an album overflowing with great music.

All in all, Bill Cunliffe’s ‘Bill In Brazil’ is a fine effort, waiting to provide you with more excitement than, say, forgetting to pick up your travel papers.

Right, Bill?  

This Saturday, we’ll wrap up our month-long salute to ‘The Birth of Bossa Nova’ with a look at one of Brazilian music’s biggest conglomerates – no, its not a record label, but one of Brazil’s top families of song – with a show called ‘Gilberto, Inc.’

When it comes to Bossa Nova, no other Brazilian family comes close to achieving what João Gilberto, his ex-wives Astrud Gilberto and Miucha and his daughter Bebel Gilberto have created and I’ll explore some of their very best songs, along with the stories behind them, including songs from Bebel’s new ‘All In One’ album and Ithamara Koorax’s ‘Bim Bom: The Complete Joao Gilberto Songbook’.

There’s more: Basia borrows the Bossa beat – as does Brazilian keyboardist Marcos Ariel, Full Circle reprises an early Brazilian jazz hit plus lots of new music to groove on from, Ed Johnson & Novo Tempo and Patricia Talem – even Italy’s Jovanotti with the Sergio Mendes Encanto’ CD! Plus favs from saxophonist Leo Gandelman and guitarist Torcuato Mariano, too - Don’t miss this show!

My Brazilian Music Tip of the Day

For fans of Bossa Nova this CD represents the “Holy Grail.” Comprised within this volume are the complete and original recordings from three of João Gilberto’s initial Bossa Nova studio dates, from 1958 to 1961.

Originally compiled and released in 1990, “The Legendary João Gilberto” quickly sold out, making it nearly impossible to find these incredible, historic recordings.

Connectbrazil offers a limited number of copies on a first come, first served basis from inventory secured through a private supplier. This is the original pressing of this title and is licensed and authorized by World Pacific Records.

This is where Bossa Nova began. Explore this album’s liner notes and audio clips here!