[Dixielandjazz] Slightly OT - Anybody know anything about

[Ken Mathieson]

 Hi Dave et al,

The first 2 clips are of a Brasilian band playing hymns and when the rhythm gets going it's akin to the Brasilian musical style called choro. Normally choro groups are predominantly composed of stringed instruments like cavaquinho, mandolin, guitar and 7-string accoustic bass guitar plus a percussionist, usually playing a brasilian tambourine, although sometimes they add a wind instrument, generally a flute or clarinet. In these clips, the tuba is playing a fluid improvised bass line similar to the role of the 7-string guitar in choro. The instrumentation on the clips makes the rhythm more ponderous than choro usually is, but it's an interesting example of rural brasilian religious music. The third clip, by a different band, sounds like similar religious music. It's all a bit rough and ready, but the presence of valve trombone in so many clips is interesting: it's used a lot in street bands in the carnival season and, since every town in Brasil will have a carnival celebration with parades, floats and music, you come across valve trombones the length and breadth of the country. It's certainly a commoner instrument there than in UK.

Cheers,

Ken Mathieson
www.classicjazzorchestra.org.uk