Preview of Brasil Summerfest 2011: July 24-30

Get ready, New York! July 24th marks the kick off to the first annual Brasil Summerfest. Our city's international music scene won't be the same after this week-long celebration of Brazilian beats and rhythms at venues all over Manhattan. 


Brasil Summerfest is the brainchild of Petrit Pula, President/A&R at Nublu Records. Before starting at Nublu five years ago, Petrit knew some about Brazil's musical diversity through his DJing, but working at an international record label exposed Petrit to a wide range of Brazilian music and gave him the opportunity to network with artists. “Brazil is so rich musically,” Petrit explained in an interview. And once he developed this consciousness, he noticed Brazil's absence from the long list of New York's annual music festivals. "There are lots of festivals," Petrit noted, citing week long commemorations of culture like Celebrate México Now, and Festival Sud de France. "Brazil should have one, too."


So a few years ago, he pitched the idea to his friend and colleague Erika Elliott, Artistic Director for New York's ever popular SummerStage program. She wasn't immediately sold, but a trip to a music festival in Recife, changed that. Petrit and Erika, along with other representatives from North American record labels and festivals traveled to the Recife's Feira de Música in 2009. It was Erika’s first trip to Brazil and the deciding factor in her agreeing to join forces with Petrit in realizing his vision back at home. A year and a half later, we are days away from a historic dose of Brazilian creativity.


Petrit reassured me that Brasil Summerfest will be different than Brazilian Day. I personally enjoy this annual celebration of Brazilian independence that draws revelers from New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire onto 6th Ave in Little Brazil, where they proudly raise their voka-filled water bottles in the name of their native land. Still, I see how some people, even those interested in Brazilian culture, might steer clear of that event. Petrit explained that "Brasil Summerfest is more about educating people and getting them to know what [Brazilian Music] is." He give an example from Nublu's club in the East village. "Most of the people who come to Nublu aren’t Brazilian, but now they know what Forró is and keep coming back for more every Wednesday night."

But why only now is a week-long celebration dedicated exclusively to Brazilian music coming to New York? I often think about the fact that a significant  number of Spanish-speaking, Latin pop and hip hop performers, like Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and Ricky Martin, have achieved wide-spread recognition in North America, but contemporary Brazilian artists from the same musical genres, like Ivete and Claudia Leite, aren't anywhere close to becoming household names.

I asked Petrit if he has any insights into the matter. Like many to whom I've posed this question, he cites language as a barrier. Far fewer North Americans speak Portuguese than speak Spanish. And while the Spanish-speaking artists I mentioned above have numerous English language songs, both of us were hard pressed to think of a English language Brazilian hit. But beyond the obvious, Petrit made an excellent observation. “Any [artist] that would get huge here would have to show the colors of Brazil somehow. Every country in the world has Rock bands." This theory makes sense, and it gives new meaning to the line up he and Erika have put together for Brasil Summerfest.

There's no question that contemporary Brazilian artists who've had relative success in the U.S., like Seu Jorge and Bebel Gilberto, are inspired by the native beats and rhythms of Samba and Bossa Nova. But Brazilian rocker, Pitty, even with a ranking in the top 100 most influential Brazilians, is unknown in North America and touring in the U.S. for the first time ever this month with hip hop artist, Marcelo D2. I'm personally stoked that I'll be part of a crowd welcoming Pitty to one of her first shows in North America. Even if she proves to be a rocker just like the rest, firsts are significant.

If Rock isn't your jam, no worries. Brasil Summerfest is packed with back-to-back shows that will give attendees a thorough sampling of all types of Brazilian aural experiences.  From Forró and Samba-punk, to folkloric and electronic junk, Brasil Summerfest has it all.

Check out Brasil Summerfest's website for complete information on each show and for bios of each artist: http://brasilsummerfest.com/

Sunday, July 24: Marcelo D2 with Pitty / Central Park SummerStage / Free

Monday, July 25: Forró in the Dark / City Winery / $10
Tuesday, July 26: Brothers of Brazil / Bowery Electric / $10
Wednesday, July 27: Jorge Continentino's Pifanology with Loop B / Nublu / $10
Thursday, July 28: Davi Vieira's Hip Hop Axe / Nublu / $10
Friday, July 29: DJ NUTS Dance Party / Drom / $10
Saturday, July 30: Percussivo Mundo Novo / S.O.B.s / $10

Wishing I were at Sertanejo Pop Festival 2011

I haven't been to this annual festival of Brazilian pop country music, but I imagine the crowd descending on the city of Belo Horizonte this weekend looks something like this: groups of single young women, groups of single young men, many of whom are decked out in cowboy boots and hats, lots of teen and twenty-something couples eager to be serenaded by lovey-dovey lyrics, and masses of screaming teenage girls completely and totally desperate to see the performance by national heartthrob, Luan Santana. 


If I were in BH this weekend, I would fit into the first category of attendees, but I'm sweating it out in New York and watching videos of the festival and of my favorite Sertanejo duos on YouTube.

Official Sertanejo Pop Festival 2011 video

I was introduced to Sertanejo music on a  two-hour ferry boat ride in the Amazon, far far away from the Central West and South East origins of this music genre. But I am forever grateful to the two pilots who decided to stick the Bruno e Marrone De Volta aos Bares DVD in the player. At first, I was excited simply because I could understand what the duo was singing. Like much Country music, Sertanjo is often slow and tells a story, and so much of the Brazilian music I had heard up to this point was fast paced pop, rock, and rap whose lyrics didn't even sound like Portuguese to me. But once I started processing Bruno and Marrone's lyrics, I began to pick out the common theme of love, heartbreak, sex, and alcohol, with the occasional horse back ride through the sertão (wilderness). Who would want to listen to music about anything else? While Bruno and Maronne are not playing at Sertanejo Pop Festival, I believe no introduction to Sertanejo is complete with out these two pot-bellied men in tight jeans. Here is one of my favorites: Flashback de nós dois is about a guy inviting an ex to re-live their lust for just one night. Hey, we've all thought about it...

And some songs are more sweet than salty. Amigo Apaixonado, by Sertanejo duo Vitor & Leo is about a guy who professes his love to his best friend. Oh yeah, I may or may not have  thought about doing that, too. 

Diogo Nogueira and the Phenomenon of Relative Stardom

I had the ideal concert experience when I saw Diogo Nogueira perform live at Lincoln Center as part of its MidsummerNight Swing series. I stood front row, center, got an autographed CD and took a picture with Diogo! If you are wondering who Diogo Nogueira is, you are part of the reason why I was able to get so close. 


Over the last four years Diogo Nogueira has climbed the ranks of the Brazilian Samaba scene to become a national icon. Admittedly, he had an advantage as the son of Samba artist João Nogeuria, but performing was not part of his original career path. He trained as a professional soccer player, playing two seasons for Cruzeiro, before an knee injury forced him to consider a career change. There is no doubt that his early exposure to music and performing through his father was invaluable to his recent success, but Diogo has been recognized for his talent and accomplishments independent of his dad. 

Diogo Nogueira at Lincoln Center
July, 1 2011

Diogo released his first album, Cidade de Samba, in 2007. In 2008, he composed a Samba enredo for Portela's Carnaval procession that placed the school in the top 5 for the first time in 10 years. His second album, Tô Fazendo a Minha Parte, was awarded a Latin Grammy in 2010 in the category of Best Samba/Pagode. Today, in addition to composing music and touring, Diogo hosts a weekly TV show, Samba na Gamboa, where he interviews and performs with some of the most famous living Samba composers in Brazil. 

If this hasn't convinced you of Diogo's celebrity status, just take my word for it. Diogo Nogeuira is kind of a big deal... in Brazil. Understandably, he hasn't achieved the same widespread recognition in the States as he has in his country of origin. One reason for this could be that, unlike other Latin artists, none of his songs are in English. And there just aren't that enough Portuguese speaking New Yorkers to fill Madison Square Garden's 15,000 seats when Diogo comes to town. The exception is Ivete Sangalo, who last September filled MSG with Brazilians who came to New York from all over the North East and even from Brazil to see her show and attend the Brazilian Day Festival that same weekend. I would love to see Diogo gather a North American following that more closely matches his the size of his Brazilian fan-base, but I admit I'm reluctant to give up my affordable, front row tickets and photo opps with the artist. 



Call me selfish. But you have to admit it's a great feeling to see one of your favorite artists perform 10 feet away from you and to be able to tell him in person after the show that you love his music and that studying his lyrics helped you learn Portuguese. Sitting in the nose bleed section of a stadium and watching the performance on the JumboTron just doesn't compare. 


Lucky for us, two more big name performers are coming to New York this summer. On July 24th, hip hop artist Marcelo D2 and rocker Pitty are playing a FREE show on Central Park's SummerStage. The show will kick off Brasil SummerFest, a full week of Brazilian musical performances all around Manhattan. Even if you aren't so familiar with the music, I suggest you don't pass up this opportunity. Next time these artists come to New York, they could be playing at the Garden.