POR AÍ
Bringing back Carnaval
For those who missed Rio's latest Carnaval parade and for those who saw it on tapes made out from what
Brazilian TV has shown of the spectacle and thought it to be too tame A-Vid International is offering a second chance.
The Washington-based company has released "Brazil Carnaval '96", a one-hour compilation of sounds, colors, sweat
and a lot of flesh. All the main Escolas de
Samba (samba schools) and their samba enredos
(samba plots) are featured on the tape. The video comes with the disclaimer: "For mature audiences only." In the same line, A-Vid is also
offering titles as "Samba Rio," and "Hot Nights in Rio," and promises for soon a collection of three tapes entitled "Erotic
Nights in Rio" and another called "Gay Nights in Rio". For more information you can call (800) 750-1941.
Bossa nova redux
US-based Gaúcho (from Rio Grande do Sul) composer and pianist extraordinary
Manfredo Fest has just released Fascinating Rhythm
in another show of his alchemist power to magically mix Brazilian sounds to American
jazz. Besides the title song which is from George
Gershwin the new CD contains Tom Jobim's "Samba do Avião,"
Baden Powel's "Berimbau,"
Fest's "Arigó" and Paulo
Jobim's "Samba do Soho." Fest, after being raised in Porto
Alegre where he also got a degree in music, moved to São Paulo in his early twenties. He's been in the United
States (Minneapolis, Los Angeles with Sérgio
Mendes, Chicago, back to Minneapolis and then Miami) since
1967. Fascinating Rhythm is a Concord Jazz release. You can get more information at (510) 682-6770.
Brazil-Florida connection
With Brazil as Florida's greatest trade partner Tigertail Productions is going full-steam ahead with the idea
of transforming its New Vision -- Florida/Brazil festival into an international event that should attract people from
across the US. Since 1986, Mary Luft, Tigertail's director, has been traveling to Brazil to meet with artists and
cultural authorities. This has already given birth to cultural projects both in Brazil and the US. This year the two-week
program to be held in November will include Brazilian painting, dance, movies, discussion panels and concerts. Among
the names being expected at the festival are director
Fábio Barreto and his Oscar-nominated
O Quatrilho, visual artist Arnaldo
Antunes, and the jazz ensemble Pau Brasil. You want to know more? Call (305) 324-4337.