This month we celebrate the music of Brazil. With musical influences from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, North America, and neighboring countries in South America, Brazilian music is soulfully eclectic. We hope you enjoy this curated playlist!
Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova is a cool blend of samba and American jazz that was pioneered by João Gilberto. This lyrical style is accompanied by an acoustic guitar and percussion.
Samba
One of the most popular Brazilian music genres and dance styles, samba was first brought to Brazil via the African slave trade. Over the years, it’s evolved and spread across the globe.
Forró
Forró (pronounced with a light, guttural r) is a sensual music and dance style that originated in northeastern Brazil. It’s typically accompanied by zabumba (a bass drum), accordion, guitar, triangle, and a lyrical melody.
Chôro
Chôro, the grandfather of bossa nova known as the New Orleans jazz of Brazil, is a celebration of Brazil’s folk music. The composer Heitor Villa-Lobos was heavily influenced by this style when composing his well known Chôros series.
Capoeira
This Brazilian martial art originated among slaves from Angola and is accompanied by several local instruments, including berimbau (a single-stringed instrument with a hollow gourd), atabaque (and Afro-Brazilian hand drum), and pandeiro (a hand frame drum with jingles).
Manguebeat or Mangue Bit
Manguebeat or mangue bit may be one of the most dynamic and interesting musical genres from Brazil. Born in the Northeastern region of the country, manguebeat is a cultural response to the poverty in Recife, a coastal city in Brazil.
Souk-Lambada
Souk-Lambada is a sensual music and dance style which incorporates forró, merengue, samba, carimbó, and zouk from the french-caribbean.
Afro-Brazilian fusion
Brazil has seen an incredible revival of Afro-Brazilian culture within the past two decades. Via the devastating slave trade that brought millions of people to Brazil, African culture—including music—was brought to South America. The musical styles from Africa have been well-preserved since their arrival in Brazil.
Axé
Axé is a smart combination of elétrico music, afoxé, samba-reggae, and modern pop that was popular in the 1990s.
Ijexa
Ijexa as similar so samba, but associated with the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomble.
