Brazilian Jazz - Chorinho & Bossa Nova

The Embassy of Brazil in Nicosia and The Pharos Arts Foundation present a unique evening of Chorinho & Bossa Nova melodies featuring the Greek-Brazilian singer Katerina Polemi (piano, guitar & vocals), the French guitar player Jean-Philippe Crespin and the Brazilian percussionist Júlio Gonçalves.

The Brazilian chorinho is a very fine type of music that blends the sophistication of instruments such as the trumpet, flute, guitar and a pint of improvisation. The literal translation of “chorinho” would be a “little cry or lament”. Though the songs in this style are a bit nostalgic, they don’t make us cry at all! In fact, when you go to bars and there is a group of chorinho (“roda de choro”) playing, you feel uplifted because of its upbeat sounds. Part of its sound uniqueness is given by an instrument which is typically Brazilian, called “cavaquinho”, which has its origins in Portugal. The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four double wire strings.

Bossa nova has at its core a rhythm based on samba. Samba combines the rhythmic patterns and feel originating in former African slave communities. Samba's emphasis on the second beat carries through to bossa nova. However, unlike samba, bossa nova doesn't have dance steps to accompany it. Overall, the rhythm has a "swaying" feel rather than the "swinging" feel of jazz. Bossa nova was also influenced by the blues, but bossa nova's affinity with the blues often passes unnoticed. In terms of harmonic structure, bossa nova has a great deal in common with jazz. The first bossa nova song, "Chega de Saudade", borrowed some structural elements from the chorinho; however, later compositions rarely followed this form. Antonio Carlos Jobim, the most famous bossa nova composer, often used challenging, almost dissonant melody lines, the best-known being in the tunes "Desafinado" ("Off-key").

The most famous Brazilian musicians linked to bossa nova are Laurindo Almeida, Tito Madi, Luiz Bonfá, João Bosco, Chico Buarque, Oscar Castro-Neves, Gal Costa, João Donato, Eliane Elias, Quarteto em Cy, Gilberto Gil, Bebel Gilberto, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, Sergio Ricardo, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Edu Lobo, Nara Leão, Miúcha, Carlos Lyra, Maysa, Sérgio Mendes, Newton Mendonça, Roberto Menescal, Vinicius de Moraes, Paulinho Nogueira, Hermeto Pascoal, Rosa Passos, Baden Powell, Elis Regina, Elza Soares, Sylvia Telles, Marcos Valle, Caetano Veloso e Zimbo Trio, among others.

Over the years the genre of bossa nova has reached beyond its Brazilian and jazz roots, influencing popular music and other popular rhythms. Outside Brazil, the most famous names connected to bossa nova are Dave Brubeck, Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Anderson, Sarah Vaughan, Lani Hall, Diana Krull, Henry Salvador and Georges Moustaki, among others.

TICKETS
Ticket price: €15 Adults / €10 Members of the Foundation, Concessions
Box Office: Tel. 7000-9304 (daily 9.30-11.30am) / www.pharostickets.org