September 30, 2013

Dona Onete | Jamburana


...." By the age of fifteen she was singing samba, quadrilhas, boi bumba and other Northeastern genres in the bars of her hometown. “They used to give me beer as payment, but I didn’t even drink it. I was just singing for my own enjoyment.” In spite of her talent and evident star-like quality, Dona Onete never seriously considered a career in music. That would only happen much later, when the current swept her that way. She became a Professor of History and Amazonian Studies in her hometown, Igaparé Miri, 100km outside of Belém, and ardently researched the rhythms, dances and traditions of the indigenous and black people of the area. This led her to establish several music and dance groups, which regenerated traditional customs, and which eventually saw her elected as the Municipal Secretary of Culture of Igaparé-Miri. Absorbing all these genres and rhythms, Dona Onete also began to compose, creating the hybrid genre for which she would later become famous, the carimbó chamegado " .....
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September 27, 2013

Alessandra Leão | Atirei

Percussionist, songwriter and singer Alessandra Leão was born in Pernambuco, north-east Brazil. After collaborating with a number of artists (including Antonio Carlos Nóbrega and Florencia Bernales) she launched her solo career in 2006 with the widely acclaimed CD Brinqendo de Tambor. Her star has been on the rise ever since. Her compositions are refreshing interpretations of traditional music from the coast and the Zona da Mata, and are characterized by plenty of polyrhythmic percussion and interwoven guitar lines.