With due respect to Stefan Marolachakis, do not be mislead that Brazilian music has stagnated since Bossa Nova (Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento review, 10/03). To inform us of current trends he has chosen
to review the current output of Brazilian musicians who came to prominence in the mid 1960s.
How many of us would showcase the artists our parents grew up listening to as the cutting edge in our musical culture? No matter how innovative those musicians are, the cutting edge instead belongs to musicians influenced by them.
When censorship under the Brazilian military dictatorship eased during the 1970s, Gilberto Gil formed an association with the Afro Blocos groups that participate in the Bahian Carnival. Innovative music continues to come out of Bahian Carnival, the Axe/Pop of Ivete Sangalo is an excellent example of such an influenced artist. Other recent sounds include Zeca Baleiro (folky), "Gabriel, O Pensador" (rap/hip hop), and Max de Castro (Bossa Dub).
To learn about even more current sounds, come meet some of the Brazilian students at the Brazilian Cultural Club (TBCC) 9 p.m. Thursday 10/4 at the Campus Center or email tbcc-request@fedney.org to get on its mailing list. This author is 100 percent American, so professes only to have second hand knowledge of Brazilian culture.
Sean Kennedy
LA '02
