Putumayo Presents: Festa Brasil

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This collection focuses on the relationship between Jamaican reggae and Brazilian music--particularly the accordion-driven forró style popular in Brazil's Northeastern states. Lazzo's "Sim/Nao" is notable for its stylistic references to Booker T. and Toots & the Maytals, while Pepeu Gomes's "Sexy Yemanja" makes unusual use of a pedal steel guitar. (Think New Riders of the Purple Sage meet King Sunny Ade in a government yard in Trenchtown.) Other forró-based artists include Ale Muniz, Rita Ribeiro, Saldanha Rolim and Chico César, while DiDa Banda Feminina, Ivete Sangalo and Gal Costa represent Bahia, the musical heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. Most of the tracks on Festa Brasil are relatively unexceptional in themselves. But, like its Putumayo predecessor, Brasileiro, it adds up to a terrific party album. --Rick Mitchell

Tracks:

Sim Nao - lazzo
Monsieur Samba - Lvete Sangalo
Sexy Yemanja - Pepeu Gomes
Chiclete Com Banana - Gal Costa
Papo Cabeca - Chico Cesar
Cocada - Rita Ribeiro
Severing Xique-Xique - Zeca Pagodinho
Seja O Que Deus Quiser - Paulinho Moska
Filhos Do Tempo - DiDa Banda Feminina
Feira De Mangaio - Agepe
Cacimba Do Meu Amor - Saldanha Rolim
Le Mama - Ale Muniz

Amazon.com

This collection focuses on the relationship between Jamaican reggae and Brazilian music--particularly the accordion-driven forró style popular in Brazil's Northeastern states. Lazzo's "Sim/Nao" is notable for its stylistic references to Booker T. and Toots & the Maytals, while Pepeu Gomes's "Sexy Yemanja" makes unusual use of a pedal steel guitar. (Think New Riders of the Purple Sage meet King Sunny Ade in a government yard in Trenchtown.) Other forró-based artists include Ale Muniz, Rita Ribeiro, Saldanha Rolim and Chico César, while DiDa Banda Feminina, Ivete Sangalo and Gal Costa represent Bahia, the musical heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. Most of the tracks on Festa Brasil are relatively unexceptional in themselves. But, like its Putumayo predecessor, Brasileiro, it adds up to a terrific party album. --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews:

Festive Brazil-Accordion music&reggae!.......2006-09-06

Not all accordion music consists of oompa band polkas&sappy French love songs,or anything by Weird Al Yankovic.In Brazil,the accordion is part of forro music from the Northeast,in Bahia,a region with a deep African heritage.

"Festa Brasil" is one of Putumayo's great Brazilian compilations;unfortunately,it is out of print.

Highlights-
1)Sim/Nao-The smoky-voiced Lazzo sings a reggae version of a Caetano Veloso song.Delightful&frothy,it's joyful party music.
2)Monsieur Samba-Former model Ivette Sangalo outdoes Natalie Imbruglia&Kylie Minogue as a singer.Her exuberant song mixes Portuguese with French.I hope to get her live concert MTV CD.
3)Sexy Yemanaja-Slide guitar makes this song sound almost country.It's a joyful invocation of Yemanaja,the mermaid goddess of the waters in the Afro-Brazilian religion umbanda.
4)Chiclete com Banana-Gal Costa delightfully mocks the Americanization of Brazilian music.Great song.Gal Costa is gifted.One wonders what she'd think of the rap versions of Sergio Mendes' songs&his recent collaboration with Justin Timberlake...
5)Severina Xique-Xique-A funny song about a younger man wooing an older woman for her money.
6)Cocada-The great Rita Ribeiro sings a delightful song about candy.Definitely superior to Natalie Merchant's "Ice Cream." or the the "Honey,honey,sugar,sugar" song by the Archies.
7)Filhos do Tempo-A deeply rhythmic song by a feminist band that draws on its African heritage.Powerful samba-reggae.
8)Feira de Mangaio-Descriptive song about a Brazilian marketplace.Tragically,Agepe passed away in 1995.He had immense talent.
9)Ie Mama-Another rhythmic reggae song.It was produced by Suba,the late genius who also produced Bebel Gilberto's "Tanto Tempo." Suba was full of potential;his talent shows here.

This is a wonderful album.It's six years old,and it doesn't go out of date.If you like Brazilian music,this is perfect!

My favorite Putomayo CD.......2002-03-18

I have a lot of Putomayo CDs and this one is my favorite.

Great music from the Northeast of Brazil!.......2002-01-30

I have listened to lots of Brazilian music (and am half Brazilian!) and this is easily one of my favorite CDs. It features NorthEastern Brazilian rhythms in a modern style, creating crisp, lively music that is hard to sit still for. I highly recommend this CD.

Fun Brazilian beats.......2000-11-10

Putumayo has selected good examples of forró and Brazilian reggae on this compilation. Most people think that all Brazilian beats are samba, but the country's musical richness is far beyond samba. While the easygoing sway of Brazil's national dance informs many of her sounds, styles such as forró and Brazilian reggae are gaining popularity among the hip Brazileiros. The percussion-heavy, accordion-drenched forró with its irresistible dance beat is spreading from its birthplace in Bahia to sweep the country. Brazilians are making reggae their own by infusing its infectious beat into styles such as samba, Música Popular Brasileira, axé and pagodge. Sangalo's "Monsieur Samba" has wonderful soft beats that will capture anyone's interest. "Iê Mamá" has great lyrics. All of the selections are upbeat with driving, danceable rhythms. Festa Brasil is definitely worth buying.

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