New Yorker on Rio favela gangsters

This is just a few paragraphs -- you'll have to read the whole long piece in the magazine if you're interested...

Guinga engages

Guinga engages
Originally uploaded by Eric Marc Crawford

Pandeiro Resource:

This site contains a variety of key pandeiro patterns as well as video and audio demos. A great place to learn once you already have some basic technique down -- a teacher is recommended for that!

'É do Pandeiro' site

Mãe Hilda of Ile Aiye passes away

The spiritual force behind Ile Aiye died on Sunday in Salvador, Bahia. Official news story here and my photo here.

O Nosso Amor (Tom Jobim-Vinicius de Moraes) Roberto Menescal e Cris Delanno

A lovely way to start (or end) the day with a little samba from Black Orpheus...

Percussionist Ramiro Musotto lost to cancer at 45

Ramiro was, among other things, famed for his berimbau mastery. Full story:
http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/Percussionist_Ramiro_Musotto_Dies_Brazil

Rio Carnaval with Jorge Alabe

Forwarded email from Deborah Cogan (dlcogan@earthlink.net):

I'm forwarding the information about Jorge Alabe's Samba
Tour to Rio for January 2010. Please get in touch with me or with Jorge if you are interested in joining the trip--there is still room for more people to participate, and now is the time to make plans. For people who would like to make their own flight
itinerary, we can also offer a price for the trip with airfare not included.

General information is below, and feel free to get in touch with any
questions.

I hope to get a chance to see some of you before another year goes by, maybe
in Brazil!

Best,

Deborah


+++++++++++++++++++++++
Samba Tour in Rio de Janeiro
with Jorge Alabe
January 2010

Visit Rio¹s famous samba schools and enjoy the culture of one of the world¹s
most beautiful cities with master Brazilian percussionist Jorge Alabe!
(min. 5 people, max. 10 people in group)

Depart U.S. Jan. 13, arrive in Rio Jan. 14
Depart Rio Jan. 23, arrive in U.S. Jan. 24

Included in trip price:

* Round-trip economy-class airfare from the U.S. to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* Shared rooms in apartment in Copacabana (4 to 5 people in each apartment),
walking distance from the beach
* Transportation from the airport on arrival on 1/13, and return to airport
on 1/23
* Transportation to five samba school rehearsals and other scheduled
activities
* Visit to a candomble house

All for $2400
($1300 due by Oct. 1; remainder due by Dec. 15.)

(Not included: Passport and visa fees; additional transportation costs;
entry fees to samba schools; meals other than specified on the schedule;
drum and dance classes; other activities.)

For more information or to join the tour, contact Deborah at 510-601-7244,
dlcogan@earthlink.net; or Jorge Alabe at 510-393-6400, jorgealabe@yahoo.com.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Preliminary tour schedule (subject to change):

Arrive Thursday: Settle into apartment; walk around Copacabana to get
oriented. Eat out a great Brazilian churrascaria restaurant with group
(dinner cost not included in trip)

Friday: Free during day. Visit to samba school at night: Portela.

Saturday: Visit to local pagode club in evening or samba school rehearsal.

Sunday: Technical rehearsal at sambadrome‹two samba schools. Leave around
3:00 p.m.; return in evening.

Monday: Free day/evening.

Tues.: Free day. Visit to samba school at night: Viradouro

Wed.: Tour of Artcelsior drum factory, and opportunity to buy drums. Visit
to samba school at night: Mocidade

Thurs.: Free day. Visit to samba school at night: Salgueiro.

Friday: Visit to candomble house during day. Free evening.

Saturday: Departure day.

Group or private dance or drum classes available for additional fees by
arrangement. (For group class of 4 or more people, $20/hour per person for
drum or dance class.)

Possible group activities on free days (not included in trip):
Visit to island of Paquetá
Visit to Cidade do Samba (exhibits of float construction and costumes)
Visit to Sugarloaf (Pão de Açucar)
Tijuca Forest and Corcovado
Shopping downtown: Rua da Alfandega, Rua de Carioca
Lapa nightclubs

California Brazil Camp 2008 photo book out now

All the music, dance, and general merriment that is California Brazil Camp is fresh in the minds of all of us lucky enough to attend. My book on the 2008 camp is now available (here) and 2009 is coming out soon...