“Shoulders, chest, pants, shoes”.
Quick question, did these niggas just go from rapping about body parts to clothing items?With lyrics like these, it is time to venture off and discover new genres of music. I decided to do my research on Brazilian music. Weeks later while on craigslist, an online classified and forum site I scrolled across a posting for Brazilian Soul. In a city full of Little Brother and 9thWonder offspring, I couldn’t imagine what this posting had to offer. I continued to read and below was a link to their website hoping to find some snippets of a sound most recently grasped by DJ Jazzy Jeff and at the very least, providing more distain for Raleigh. However, what I heard lead to a meeting with the group and a revelation that real music is here and its now.
The music of Brazil comes from all parts of the world with the most popular music styles having their influences from Africa and Europe. After 500 years of history, Brazil has developed unique and original styles of music with samba and bossa nova receiving the most acclaim worldwide.
Brazilian Soul consist of three people vocalist and guitarist Paulo Lopes, bassist Cesar Oviedo, and percussionist Robert Cantrell. Collectively having over 30 years of musical experience, they play multiple forms of Brazilian styles; from the most rudimentary Forro’ (For All) to the most complex harmonies of Bossa Nova and Brazilian Classical.
On the 4-track demo I received are four tracks that reveal the groups diversity of sound and fresh ideas in our sometimes stale, redundant musical age. Tive Razao, my favorite track embodies the purest form of samba with traditional instruments such as the llu (drum), flute, and guitar with a distinct sound of the triangle. The track is kicked off with the sound of a snare and immediately you get the sensation of midnight marauding through the sites and sounds of the city. A Female’s vocals fuses with Paulo’s’ creating a synergy only a man and woman can understand. On the mid tempo Brazilian Reggae, track Azul, is musical clarity and expression at its finest. Bass guitar dominate, the song is an eclectic interpretation of the sound once inhabited mostly by poor blacks.
I watched 2/3 of the group perform at a private art showing. Armed with two guitars and a microphone, Brazilian Soul entertained the posh Durham/Chapel Hill crowd as they co- mingled and sipped wines from plastic cups. Brazilian born Paulo who has experience as an arranger and composer describes their music as “very sexy”, something he tries to convey in every song. But even at the most Forro’ level of music comes compromise. Playing for a crowd uneducated in the music’s sentiment- some vocals were performed which do not reflect 100% of Brazilian Soul’s concept and just like hip-hop if the majority cannot understand it, they do not care to hear it.
As for me, although I am clueless to the foreign sounding vocals is just what I am looking for. With a style of vocals and instrument sounds that can only come with age, Brazilian Soul continues to pack crowds all over North Carolina and soon will be taking their act to South Carolina and Georgia. In a time where catchy hooks trump lyrics, bars like, “red light green light yellow light get it man.” is not working for me. Better yet, its not even good club music. Portuguese classes anyone?
