Sounds of The Bossa Nova | 12 Tunes to Know

Bossa Nova is a popular style of Brazilian music that is known to have developed in the 1950s and 1960s. It is described as a fusion of the samba and jazz music genres. I adore the bossa nova and Afro-Brazilian culture. Perhaps that's strong evidence of my Afropolitan traits. Here are twelve tunes you should know from the bossa nova genre. Click on the album covers to listen.

From left-right, top-down:

Manoa - Lisa Ono
Bim Bom - Chega de Saudade by Joao Gilberto
Sylvia Telles - Voce

Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

Pink Martini & Saori Yuki

Antonio Carlos Jobim: Wave

Sam Prekop
Bossa Nova Cha Cha - Luiz Bonfa

The Astrud Gilberto album

Let Me - Jill Scott (featuring Sergio Mendes)

The Girl from Ipanema - Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto

Jazz Samba Encore! - Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfa

Tom Ze - Estuda

Oscar Peterson's version of Wave by Antonio Jobim

PS. If you must pick only one song, listen to the first, which is Manoa - Lisa Ono.

Enjoy!

Brasil Summerfest | July 21 - 28, 2012

The Brasil Summerfest is back in New York this year with a fresh new lineup of critically-acclaimed artists. Founded and curated by Petrit Pula in 2011, the festival was created as a platform to highlight the music and culture of Brazil.

This year, the festival opened on July 21st with an arrangement of performances at Central Park SummerStage. Criolo, MTV Brazil's Best New Artist in 2011, is one special feature of the festival. He artfully blends Brazilian rhythms including samba, soul, Afro-funk and rock riffs which he assembles with hip-hop beats and flow. Another special feature is Flavio Renegado, a hip hop artist  who incorporates the sounds of reggae, maracatu, Cuban music, African rhythms, and samba.

For more on the festival, visit www.brasilsummerfest.com.

Vik Muniz | Waste Land

Waste Land is a documentary starring artist Vik Muniz, which documents his journey from Brooklyn to his native Brazil. There, he partners with scavengers of recyclables working at one of the world's largest landfill to create large mosaic portraits. Waste Land received the audience award for the best international documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination for best feature documentary.

Waste Land (2010) Trailer

For more on Waste Land visit www.wastelandmovie.com.

Seu Jorge - Tive Razao

I love the sound of Brazilian musician, Seu Jorge.

"Tive Razao" by Seu Jorge from the record "Cru"

A light, dance tune by Brazilian artist, Seu Jorge

 who is considered a renewer of Brazilian pop samba.

Click here for a listen!