Continental Sambajazz
Hendrik Meurkens and Charlie Byrd, both supreme jazz musicians, both touched by European sophistication, and
deeply influenced by Brazilian music, have a new record out. Meurken’s CD is called October Colors and presents the
Germany-born, New York-based composer and arranger playing sambajazz with some of the best Brazilian musicians. Says
Hendrik, “Sambajazz is the instrumental answer to the vocal-dominated bossa nova.” Meurkens lived in Brazil in the early 80s
and went back there in ’89 to record his Samba Importado. In October Colors, among other tunes, he plays Tom
Jobim’s “Brigas, Nunca Mais” and his own composition “Chorinho No. 1”.
At 70, Charlie Byrd, one of the most influential guitarists from the jazz world, continues to amaze. His latest release,
The Charlie Byrd Quintet du Hot Club de Concord, is no exception. The recent passing of his Brazilian friend
renowned guitarist Laurindo de Almeida, ended a long and fruitful partnership. In his latest work Charlie includes bossa nova
sounds and Pixinguinha’s “Carinhoso”. Both CDs were released by Concord Jazz (510) 682-6770.
Luso Traditions
Once again this year the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), will be the gathering place for
Portuguese scholars from all over the world to discuss themes dealing with Portuguese language, history and customs. The
XIX Symposium on Portuguese Traditions (Europe, America, Africa, Asia) will happen on April 21 and 22 at the
Sunset Recreation Center, on the UCLA campus.
The meeting is promoted by the University’s Department of Spanish
and Portuguese, but it wouldn’t happen if the weren’t for the tenacity
of professor Claude Hulet, who has continued this project even after
retiring as a Portuguese Literature teacher at UCLA. The Symposium is
open to all those interested in participating as listeners or
lecturers. You can get more information calling (310) 825-1036 or
sending an E-mail to Prof. Hulet at ikclclh@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
No English, please!
Through IRC (Internet Relay Chat), more computer literate Brazilians and non Brazilians have been talking on
the Internet for some time. Now, the rest of us who have a computer and a modem and who miss the contact with
Brazilians, every night have also a chance to talk on American Online’s Brazilian Chat Room.
The chat starts around 9 PM New York time. The instructions to access the room were posted recently on
Internet’s Brazilian forum, the soc.culture.brazil, by Ariel Goes: From AOL’s main menu, click People Connection (the
two-faces icon), from there click List Room, then Member Rooms, click on Create a Room, write then Brasil (with an S), and
say oi. That’s all. A basic subscription to AOL in the US costs around $10. For more information call 1(800) 827-6364.