[ December 31, 2009; 8:00 PM; 8:00 PM; ]
Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage Band features Harry Allen, the Jay Leonhart Trio, and the Nancy Nelson Trio.

[caption id="attachment_2398" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nilson Matta"][/caption]

Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage Band
When: Thursday Dec. 31
Where: Kitano
Address: 66 Park Ave. @ 38th Street.
For reservations (212) 885-7119.

Nilson Matta has long been considered one of Brazil’s best bass players. Since his arrival [...]

[ December 26, 2009; 7:30 PM; December 27, 2009; 9:30 PM; ] Famed Brazilian band Trio da Paz, with Romero Lubambo, (guitar) Nilson Matta (bass) and Duduka Fonseca (drums), will be performing five shows in late December, at the Jazz Standard.

[ December 17, 2009; 8:00 PM; December 19, 2009; 7:00 PM; ] A Brazilian composer with a Ph.D. in composition from Columbia University, Arthur Kampela has been playing in New York for quite a while, receiving enthusiastic reviews from The New York Times and several prestigious international publications. This coming week, Mr. Kampela premieres his newest piece named “Macunaíma,” which is part of a brand-new series organized by The New York Philharmonic. “Contact!,” as the series has been named, is exclusively dedicated to contemporary music.

[ December 9, 2009; 8:00 PM; December 13, 2009; 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. ] Forró

A dance out of Northeast Brazil. It is danced all over Brazil, and even in New York City. Some people say that the word “forró” comes from the English words “for all”, which meant that everyone was welcome to the parties organized by the English, who were building roads in Northeast Brazil, and holding parties for their Brazilian employees. But the word “forró”, probably comes from the word “forrobodó”, which meant the popular parties powered by music, dance and “cachaça”. A Forró band is usually comprised of an accordion, a zambumba (drum), and a triangle. In New York City you can dance Forró, listen to great music, and mix with Brazilians many nights during the week.

[ December 11, 2009; 7:30 PM; ] On Friday, December 11th ,2009, at 7:30 PM, The MSU Opera Workshop presents a program of scenes from Tamanduá (The Anteater) , Brazilian composer João Macdowell’s new work-in-progress, which garnered enthusiastic reviews from the New York press when presented in a shortened concert form in 2008. Tamanduá’s music and plot weave together elements of contemporary urban life and Brazilian folk culture in a format that fits well within the grand operatic tradition.

[ December 10, 2009; 7:00 PM; ] Beyond Ipanema: Brazilian Waves in Global Music presents a long overdue look at the powerful impact that Brazilian music has had on the American musical landscape. It’s a stylish crash course in Brazilian music, mixing vintage film clips, a funky soundtrack and an array of appearances by seminal figures from record producers Creed Taylor and Arto Lindsay, Tropicália icons Tom Zé, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil to Bossa Nova legends Roberto Menescal, Oscar Castro Néves and Carlos Lyra.