Regardless of where you travel in Brazil, there’s one Saturday mealtime traditional that you’re sure to come across – Feijoada: A flavorful combination of various meats and black beans, cooked slowly into a satisfying stew served with collared greens and fluffy white rice that is guaranteed to fill you up and slow down the pace of the day.
The story of this centuries-old tradition lies in the fact that there’s no exact recipe: This weekend meal took whatever was left over in the plantation kitchens and tossed into the kettle to simmer from the early dawn to noontime. Some say that it’s the Brazilian national dish. It wouldn’t be a stretch at all.
The music on this CD offers just a taste of this Brazilian musical feast. Some of the artists, like Joao Bosco, Rosa Passos and Jorge Ben are well known here. Others including Beth Carvalho, Chico Cesar, the late Clara Nunes, Chico Buarque and Martinho Da Vila are huge stars in Brazil. Rising stars like Silvia Torres Celso Machado Nazare Pereira round out the set.
The title of this collection, ‘Brasileiro’, means simply "Brazilian." It is a tribute to a people whose musical passion and creativity are unsurpassed. And as is the case with all Putumayo CDs offered at Connectbrazil.com, each performer is given a full page bio, along with the story behind the song.
Music is more than just entertainment in Brazil. It’s the soundtrack to life, a constant ambiance of rhythm and melody that enriches and supports the people through good times and bad. Carnaval, the bustling bacchanal every February, is an eruption of musical activity, but throughout the year the rhythms of Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileiro), Forro, Pagode and countless other styles are constantly in the air.
And just like this CD, they flow from the stereos of taxis, rural boom boxes, the rusty speakers of beachside cantinas and live, impromptu jam sessions on street corners. ‘Brasileiro’ captures this ambiance and brings you a little bit closer to the Brazilian soul.
