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Manguebeat delivers its own block-party sound
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Newsday, Manguebeat delivers its own block-party sound >>
Ed Morales
Newsday
January 15, 2006
Although it can be overshadowed by larger, more famous places such as Salvador, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, Recife is a city in the northeastern corner of Brazil that has its own proud cultural dynamism. One of the more important musical movements to come out of Brazil in the past 15 years is Recife's own manguebeat, pioneered by the late Chico Science and his backup band Nação Zumbi. The current champion of manguebeat, DJ Dolores, a turntablist who prefers to perform with live musicians, will be in town Sunday at the Public Theater's globalFEST (212-239-6200) and Monday at S.O.B.'s (212-243-4940).
The term manguebeat roughly refers to the mixing of traditional "mangrove culture" of Recife with modern, outside influences such as rock, hip-hop and electronica. While Chico Science's work combined traditional music such as maracatú with hard rock and hip-hop, DJ Dolores, like his contemporary Otto (a former percussionist for Chico Science), is more influenced by electronica and dance music. DJ Dolores' latest album, "Aparelhagem" (Ziriguiboom/Crammed Discs), takes its name from the Brazilian slang expression for "sound system," and it does function like a portable Recife block dance party.
DJ Dolores began as a collaborator with Chico Science and Nação Zumbi in the late '80s, but his 2004 release "Contraditório" put him on the map, allowing him to collaborate with the likes of David Byrne and the Beastie Boys. The new album features lead singer Isaar, who co-wrote three songs, as well as writing "Trancelim de Marfim" (Ivory Necklace), driven by kinetic samba and maracatú rhythms. On the more subdued "Prece" (Prayer), Isaar's haunting voice floats over reggae, raga, and drum and bass.
The music is often hypnotic, such as the track "Azoque," which tells the story of a drink, imbibed in the outskirts of Recife, which mixes cachaça (the stuff in caipirinhas), lime and gunpowder. Of course, you may identify with DJ Dolores' difficulty in holding onto his "Sanidade" (Sanity), a carnivalesque number driven by an elemental house beat and noodling guitar played by Gabriel. "Ciranda da Madrugada" (Daybreak Ciranda) a dub-laced reworking of the traditional song from ciranda, is particularly suited for the end of a long evening out.
Both subtle and in-your-face, "Aparelhagem" makes it clear that it's not just the machine that enables Caribbean beats to be electrified, it's the attitude. Whatever we might think of as "traditional" carries within it the seed of a cutting-edge, urban dance party. For those interested in further exploration of Brazilian electronica, check out "The Now Sound of Brazil 2" (Ziriguiboom/Six Degrees), which features DJ Dolores, Bebel Gilberto, Apollo Novo, Zuco 103, Cibelle, Bossacucanova and Celso Fonseca.
Crucial Sonidos
Jazzanova, who play bossa nova laced with electronica, will appear at Cielo (212-645-5700) Sunday. ... The excellent flamenco vocalist Miguel Poveda will be accompanied by acclaimed conga percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo and flamenco guitarist Juan Gómez Chicuelo Thursday through Saturday at the Allen Room in Frederick P. Rose Hall at Lincoln Center (212-721-6500). ... Afro-Cuban funksters Descemer Bueno & Siete Rayo will be at S.O.B.'s Thursday. ... globalFEST (next Saturday and Sunday) will also feature Cuban son revisionists Las Ondas Marteles and flamenco guitarist Juan Carmona.
E-mail Ed Morales at sonidoslatinos@nyc.rr.com. 01/15/06 >> go there
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