[Dixielandjazz] List Mate Tito Martino's Jazz Club

[Steve barbone]

HERE'S A WRITE-UP ABOUT OPUS 2004, TITO'S JAZZ CLUB. From "Gringoes.com"
which I assume is an English Language newsletter in Sao Paulo for, well,
Gringoes. 

Cheers,
Steve       

Brazil: Opus 2004 - Jazz Club By Samantha Tennant - August 26, 2005

You don't need to be a jazz connoisseur to enjoy an evening at Opus 2004,
the newly reopened jazz club in Bela Vista. The club has a sophisticated and
laid-back atmosphere which offers a pleasant contrast to the hectic pace of
life in São Paulo city. The unusually shaped triangular room provides a
great viewing potential for the live jazz bands that play in the club at
night. The club is spacious with a large bar at the back, a stage at the
front, and plenty of tables and chairs in between for audiences to sit and
enjoy their food and drink while listening to the music.

After speaking to one of the owners, Tito Martino, I discovered that this is
the only place in São Paulo where you can listen to live traditional jazz.
The club has live music every night of the week from Monday to Saturday and
with the exception of Monday nights, when there is blues, it is all jazz.
Traditional Jazz has its routes in New Orleans and Tito is an expert in the
field. He has been playing this type of music for over 40 years now and it
is this passion which has taken him all over the world. Over the years, he
has played in the US, Europe and Argentina. Now he is back in Brazil with
his band in residency at Opus 2004.

Tito and his band play at the Jazz Club every Friday and Saturday evening
usually starting at around 10pm. Whether you are a jazz fan or not, there is
something for everybody to enjoy. Last Friday evening, we heard Nat King
Cole, George Gershwin and Fats Domino amongst others and enjoyed classics
such as 'Stormy Weather', 'Summertime', 'What a Wonderful World', and
'Georgia on my Mind' as well as more upbeat numbers like 'Hello Dolly'.
Whilst playing, Tito told the audience a little bit about the history of the
songs and the music, thus giving you the feeling that you are not only
listening to the music but also having a real jazz experience. The audience
were extremely appreciative, with enthusiastic applause at the end of each
song. This was hardly surprising because from the moment they started to
play, it was obvious that all the members of the band were passionate about
the music. They are all incredibly talented and accomplished and musicians
who love what they do, and it was a real pleasure to be a part of the
evening.

Music aside, the menu has an interesting selection of food and snacks,
including barbecue spare ribs, lots of types of linguiça (Brazilian sausage)
and unusual sandwiches. There are also a wide range of beers including lots
of European options as well as liqueurs, wines and cocktails. I enjoyed a
delicious plate of calabresa with some out of the ordinary flavours, for
example raisin, caper and nut. In addition, the service is excellent, very
fast but also with a personal touch.

To sum up, if you would like to experience a real taste of traditional jazz
or simply try something different then Opus 2004 Jazz Club is certainly
worth a visit.
Opus 2004 Jazz Club, Rua Treze de Maio, 48, Bela Vista, São Paulo.