Ring in the new year – Rio style.

Tonight is a big night in Rio de Janeiro, with as many two million people packing the beaches for fireworks and festivities. A half-million visitors are expected to visit the city to ring in the new year.

NDTV reports: “Rio’s Tourism Secretary says hotel occupation has reached a record 11 percent up from last year in the same period.”

That’s good news for the city’s economy as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics approach. The major events are expected to have a major impact on tourism to the city in the coming years, and may have already made an impact. NDTV also an interesting video news report on the city’s preparations for the big night.

Have you been to Rio during New Year’s? What were your impressions on the festivities? Happy New Year’s from Mosaic Brazil!

Vocalist and stage and television performer Cornelius Bates is bringing his own version of Bossa to the Met Room in New York City on Jan. 20.

The performer has played Chuck Berry on TV, performed Shakespeare, and also been a guest performer as part of the “Late Night Groove” series at the Blue Note with the Brazilian band, The Nanny Assis Group. His new show will continue his love of Brazilian music and Broadway World described the new show:

“Cornelius Bates makes his solo debut at the Metropolitan Room in a show offering the lush phrasings of bossa nova, the sexy sounds of samba, and the hypnotic melodies of Brazilian pop. All in all, it’s a tribute to the music of Brazil entitled ‘My Brazilian Romance.’

“The new show is under the musical direction of Marcos Vigio, the Rio de Janeiro guitarist now based in New York City, with percussionists Nanny Assis and Robert Di Pietro.”

For tickets and more information visit www.metropolitanroom.com.

By Sean Chaffin, Editor/Senior Writer

Last Updated: December 31, 2009; 2:10 pm CT

Brazil welcomes in the New Year tomorrow and an intriguing new flick.

Brazilian actor Rui Ricardo Dias plays President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the new movie Lula, Son of Brazil, celebrating the life of the popular Brazilian president. According to Time magazine, the president is given the superhero treatment, from his rise from poverty to metalworkers union boss to populist president of the fifth most populous nation. Lula has enjoyed unparalleled popularity during his time as president, with polls often topping 70 percent approval. Time gives the film accolades for Dias’s portrayal of the president, but notes it is a fawning portrayal of the president, glossing over any negatives he might have.

“The film vaults through the episodes that marked Lula’s early years and his remarkable rise from poor to powerful,” Time notes. “Starting in the scrubland of the northeast, where he was born one of eight kids, it follows him to São Paulo, where he suffered at the hands of an abusive and alcoholic father. It shows him as a boy selling fruit and shining shoes for pennies and then struggling through technical college and winning a job as a metalworker in a car factory.

“Little-known actor Rui Ricardo Dias does a fine job portraying Lula from young man to adult, but the film glosses over Lula’s frailties, depicting him as a man who can do no wrong,” the magazine says.

No word yet on if the film will make its way to American audiences, but if readers hear anything, please let us know. If anyone sees the film, let us know what you think.

By Sean Chaffin, Editor/Senior Writer

Last Updated: December 31, 2009; 1:45 pm CT

Pass Go, Collect 348 reals.

Google recently teamed with Hasbro to create the online game Monopoly City Streets, officially unveiling its amazing virtual world in early-September. The game officially ended in December, but we had a chance to take a look at some of Brazil’s hottest properties. The game featured a real Rio scene with pricey sales tags for skyscrapers, hotels, and beachside destinations.

City Streets is similar to the board game that has entertained 750 million players since its creation in 1935, except its universe was expanded to include the entire world. Hasbro combined its version of capitalism with Google’s expertise in global mapping to create a unique experience for those looking to own more than just Boardwalk. The Monopoly City Streets world featured a myriad of real and expanded properties including high-end property in Rio de Janeiro.

We checked out how this game was played – and the prices for a nice piece of Rio de Janeiro. According to the City Streets blog, Rio was a popular destination even in this virtual world. All its most popular streets (and also Sao Paulo) were bought within the first day of play. Avenida Atlantica, along Copacabana Beach, proved to be a popular purchase for these virtual real estate barons with hotels and properties fetching millions and millions of dollars.

Hasbro’s final statistics of the game are staggering. Five million players participated during the games three-month run, purchasing nearly nine millions streets and building 175 million buildings. And while Rio did not make the Top 10 in searches, its real estate were indeed hot properties. Obviously, many dream of a vacation in Rio – and some Monopoly holdings in the land of Samba and sun seemed like the next best thing.

January’s Brazilian Datebook

1

(1917) Composer David Nasser born in Jau (SP).  (1935) Composer Chico Feitosa born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ). Co-wrote with Ronaldo Boscoldi the classic MPB hit “Fim de Noite”. (1958) Composer Eduardo Dusek born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ).

2

(1997) Guitarist and Composer Dilermando Reis died in Rio de Janeiro. He was one of the most celebrated instrumentalists of the 30’s, and gave President Jusclino Kubitschek lessons.

3

(1921)Composer Guilherme de Brito, born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Principal partner of Nelson Cavalquinho,  co-wrote “A Flor e o Espinho e Degraus da Vida”. He was also an artist. Died in Rio April 27, 2006.

4

(1915) Composer Rui Rei born in São Paulo(SP). (1920) Composer Mário Zan born in São Paulo(SP).

5

(1920)Singer Carmen Costa (Carmelita Madriaga) in Trajano de Moraes (RJ). She had grand success in MPB, with “Cachaça Não é Água”, “Eu Sou a Outra”, Tem Nego Bebo Aíe Marcha do Cordío da Bola Preta”. Died on April 25, 2007 in Rio.

6

(1908) Composer Zé da Zilda in Rio de Janeiro,(RJ).(1911) Composer Ciro de Souza born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ).(1926) Great singer Jorge Goulart born in Rio de Janeiro, (RJ). Married for many decades to Nora Ney.  Goulart recorded enormous successes like “Miss Mangueira” and “Balzaquiana”. (1945) Composer Walter Franco born in São Paulo,(SP).

7

(1951) Singer and Composer Liuz Melodia born in Rio de Janeiro, (RJ). (1927) A music store on Avenida Marechal Floriano,52, Rio de Janeiro opened, “Ao Bandolim de Ouro”.   Ao Bandolim specialized in selling and fixing Mandolins to celebrity clients like Pixinguinha, Waldir Azevedo  and Paulinho da Viola.

8

(1906) Composer Alcir Pires Vermelho born in Uba, (MG).  He composed with many partners,(Ary Barroso, Lamartine Babo, Walfrido Silva, and others) and left marvelous songs, “Canta Brasil”, “Tic-Tac de Meu Coracão” “Onde o Céu é Mais Azul e Laura” and others. He died in May of 1944.

9

(1987) Singer and Composer Alcides Gonçalves died in Porto Alegre.   He partnered with Lupicinio Rodrigues and Ataulfo Alves. He was featured on the Rádio Naçional in Rio de Janeiro and was given the nickname “Voice of Thunder”.

10

(1904) Composer and Carnevalesco Lamartine Babo born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ). He began composing very early, and his first success was with Ary Barroso, “ No Rancho Fundo”. A Soccer fanatic, he wrote hymns for all the Futebol Clubs in Rio de Janeiro.  He died June 16, 1964.  (1952) Composer Lô Borges born in Belo Horizonte (MG). Borges debuted with his own recording “Lô Borges” in 1972,  the same year he collaborated with Milton Nascinmento and others to create “Clube de Esquina”, both recordings are considered great, and he was only 19 years old. Borges released “Harmonia” in 2009.   

11

(1923) Journalist and Composer Sérgio Porto born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). (1972) Singer and Composer Caetano Veloso returned to Rio de Janeiro after two-year political exile in England.  (1985) First Rock In Rio concert.  Brazilian performers included Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Ney Matogrosso, and Rita Lee.  Queen, George Benson, Rod Stewart and James Taylor also performed.

12

(1915) Composer and Instrumentalist Arnô Carngal born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). (2001)

13

(1947) Music Producer, Poet and lyricist Sergio Natureza born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).  Partnered with Paulinho da Viola to compose the beautiful “Velano Breu”.  (1993) Composer and Pianist Mozart Comargo Guarnieri died.

14

(1926) Multiinstrumentalist, (vibraphone,piano,organ and harmonica) Silvio Vianna born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Played with Dick Farney and wrote the song “Icaraí”, a big success in the 50’s.

15

Composer’s Day

(1929) Trumpeter Buda (Dorival Auriani) born in São Paulo (SP).  He was soloist for the most important orchestras in the country.

16

(1969) Singer and Composer o Gordurinha (Waldeck Artur de Macedo) died in Nova Iguaçu.

17

(1901) Composer Erastóstenes Frazão born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). (1922) Guitarist and Composer, one of the great names in Bossa Nova, Luis Bonfá born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Best known as the composer of the music for the movie “Black Orpheus”, his best known composition is “Manhã de Carnaval”. Died in US Jan 12, 2001. (1927) Composer Francisco Egydio born in São Paulo (SP).

18

(1924) Singer Heleninha Costa born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). (1991) Rock in Rio 2  at Maracanã featuring Elba Ramalho, Alceu Valença, and the groups Roupa Nova and Capital Inicial.   Also headlining were George Michael, Prince and Santana.

19

(1923) Director of Harmony Xangô da Magueira (Olivério Ferreira) born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ).

20

(1951) The inauguration of TV Tupi in Rio de Janeiro, where many singers started their careers.

21

(1937) Singer Núbia Lafayete(Ideenilde de Araújo Alves da Costa) born in Açu(RN) Died in Niteroi in 2007. Remembered for her recordings of “Lama”, “Devolvi”, and “Casa e Comida”. (1940) Singer and Composer Lindomar Castilho born in Rio Verde (GO). (1948) Composer Ronaldo Bastos born in Niteroi(RJ). 

22

(1921) Brazilian Diplomat and Musicologist Vasco Mariz born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).  He was the Ambassador to Equador, Peru, Israel, and Germany.  He wrote numerous papers and books on the history of Brazilian Music.

23

(1914)Composer Babaú da Mangueira (Waldomiro Jose da Rocha).Died July 3, 1993.

(1943) Singer and Composer Vital Farias born in Taperoá (PB).  Active 1978-2002.

24

(1937) Composer Rossini Pinto born in Itabapoana(ES). (1940) Composer Paulo Diniz born in Pesqueira (PE). (1980) Musicians and actors celebrate the end of Federal censorship of Chico Buarque de Hollanda’s play “Calabar”.  It was written and ready for a performance in 1973, but the government stopped the production after reviewing the script.  It was about the 17^th Century Dutch invasion of Brazil, and was a thinly veiled comment on the military dictatorship of Brazil. 

25

(1927) Composer Tom Jobim (Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida) is born at home on Rua Conde do Bonfim, 634, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.  He went on to become one of the giants of Brazilian music, had numerous successful songs at an international level, most notably “Garota de Ipanema” (with Vinicius de Moraes). Died in New York December 7, 1994.  (1943) Singer Leny Andrade Lima born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ).    She shared a Latin grammy with Cesar Camargo Mariano for Best MPB Album “Ao Vivo” in 2007. Nicknamed “The Woman from Ipanema”.

26

(1935)Singers Deo and Durval Ferreira born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). (1941) Poet and Composer Paulo Emílio, partner with João Bosco, Aldir Blanc and Ivan Lins among others. Died in Rio de Janeiro December 30, 1990. (1954) Singer and Composer Chico Cesar born in Catolé do Rocha (PB).

27

(1902) Journalist and researcher of MPB Jota Efegê (Joao Ferreira Gomes), died May 27 1987. (1906) Composer, arranger and conductor Radamés Gnattali. Received the Shell Award in 1983. Compositions ranged from classical to popular. Died in 1988.  (1948) Singer Djavan in Alagoas. Known for “Meu Bem Querer” and “Oceano”.

28

(1925) The great singer Lucio Alves,born in Cataguazes(MG). Considered one of the great voices of Brazil. (1983) singer and actress Sandy Leah Lima, born in Campinas(SP), daughter of singer and composer Xororó.  Formed with her brother the band “Sandy and Junior” in 1989.

29

(1909) Composer Roberto Martins  born in Rio de Janeiro(RJ). Wrote “Beija –me” (with Mário Rossi, “Favela”(with Waldemar Silva), and “Leva Meu Coraçao”(with Mario Lago). Martins died on March 14, 1992.  (1947) Singer and Composer Jerry Adriani born in Sao Paulo(SP), one of the idols of the yê-yê-yê movement in the early 1960’s.

30

(1912) Singer and Composer Herivelto Martins born in  Paulo de Frontin (RJ). One of the most known composers of MPB, married to singer Dalva de Oliveira. Martins died on Sept. 17, 1992. (1967) Tom Jobim began recording in New York  “Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim”.

31

(1928) Singer Miltinho (Milton Santos de Almeida). Began his career in 1940 as a singer in the Cancioneiros do Luar group. He had many hits in the 1950’s with recordings on over 100 albums.

By Sean Chaffin, Editor/Senior Writer

Last Updated: December 22, 2009; 11:05 pm CT

Looking to add a bit of bossa nova to your Christmas carols? Scott Adams has done a great job on his annual Christmas show and I highly recommend a listen.

I was listening to the show ust last night and the Brazilian Christmas sounds truly get you in the Christmas spirit while dreaming of vacation in Rio. He even throws in some tidbits about how the holiday is celebrated in the land of samba and sun. Do yourself a favor and click on the Sounds of Brazil audio link on the right side of the Mosaic Brazil front page or visit Connect Brazil. You will be glad you did!

Have a great holiday season from all of us at Mosaic Brazil and Connect Brazil!

The New York Times recently weighed in on Brazilian culture and travel with a nice article on the paper’s website as part of its “Frequent Flier” feature.

The author has extensive experience in the country and offers some tips on travelers – even on the caparinha and cachaça. We like his note about getting outside some of the main tourist areas, a great way to experience the culture of a foreign country. The article notes the following:

“What I tell people is that Brazil is a huge country. And every state within it has a different feel. That’s why you have to give yourself enough time to try to connect with the locals, who can help you discover the specific culture of each place.

“The biggest mistake I see is people going to Rio de Janeiro without a specific plan and then never leaving the tourist area around Copacabana. Brazil is a whole lot more than that.”

What are your unique Brazilian travel and culture tips?

The travel industry continues to see Brazil, and Rio de Janeiro in particular, as a great opportunity for expansion.

With the World Cup and Olympics being staged in the country, experts are predicting an increasing number of visitors to the country. Propertyshowrooms.com even weighed in on the topic recently, noting that property owners could see an increasing flow of travelers from across the globe. The website noted the following:

“Property investors in Brazil could gain from a surge in visitor numbers if predictions of a major pick-up in the sector are correct. Speaking about the country, travel editor at Lonely Planet Tom Hall said the South American nation is ‘extremely well set up to mount a quick recovery when it comes to tourism’.”

What are your thoughts? What could Brazil do better to appeal to tourist even before the Olympics and World Cup?