Ninawa Pai Da Mata is a Huni Kuin paje (shaman) who has been studying pajelanca for over 12 years. He lives 5 days by boat from Taruaca, in an area bordering territory occupied by uncontacted Indians. Uncontacted Indians have stolen stuff out of his house and shot arrows at him. Here he sings a healing song in his native language which is used in ceremony to call forward strength.

1 January 5 Permalink

feeling a fresh breeze from the rainforest ruffling my wings…
all set for my next flight… deep into the misteries of the Amazon.
Yawanawa Festival

5 October 38 Permalink

fun video made by a beautiful group of friends for Kerem Ulken’s “Gypsy Caravan”!

6 August 13 Permalink

Love me, love me, love me say you do
Let me fly away with you

For my love is like the wind
and wild is the wind

Wild is the wind

Give me more than one caress, satisfy this hungriness
Let the wind blow through your heart

For wild is the wind,
Wild is the wind

You touch me,
I hear the sound of mandolins

You kiss me
With your kiss my life begins

You’re spring to me, all things to me
Don’t you know, you’re life itself

Like the leaf clings to the tree,
Oh, my darling, cling to me

For we’re like creatures of the wind,
and wild is the wind

Wild is the wind

12 May 7 Permalink

Hermeto Pascoal e Grupo - Sinfonia do Alto da Ribeira

…what can i say? Hermeto is one of the greatest musical geniuses alive.

this is one of my favorite videos of him! i especially love the dozens of butterflies fluttering around the musicians at 2:31!

27 February 5 Permalink

Last night there were some musicians playing this song on the street - Cidade Maravilhosa. Rio de Janeiro really is maravilhosa, and it’s great to be home!

This is the Olympic Committee’s official video for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 campaign. I’m actually in it for 2 seconds! Around 1:45 you can (hardly) see me in my hometown Niterói, doing tai chi chuan at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC), where my mother teaches a tai chi class.

20 February 4 Permalink

Mayra Andrade, another young talent making beautiful music.

born in Cuba and raised between Cape Verde, Senegal, Angola and Germany, she sings in Portuguese, French and Cape-verdean Crioulo dialect.

she also has a strong Brazilian influence in her music, and some great Brazilian musicians playing with her in this last release, people like Jaques Morelenbaum, Marcos Suzano and André Mehmari.

and, of course, she’s gorgeous.

23 August 1 Permalink

Mozart’s Sonata KV - Allegro, played by Brazilian group Uakti.

I had the privilege to tour with Uakti back in 2007. I love these guys! The video doesn’t do them justice - yeah, the music is great, but how they make it is what’s so amazing. You have to see and hear for yourself… check out their website!

They’re playing in Rio on August 31st. 7pm at SESC Ginastico.

20 August Permalink

so happy to hear Esperanza Spalding has a new release coming out. this is the EPK.

it’s called Chamber Music Society. as in all her previous releases, she plays some brazilian music on it, i think she’s so cute singing in portuguese with her accent. and Milton Nascimento makes a guest appearance.

i’m obsessed with her. so young, talented and beautiful, too!

12 August Permalink

“Nine Out Of Ten”, by brazillian icon Caetano Veloso.

from “Transa”, one of those rare albums where every single song is great.

download the album here

11 August Permalink