Blame It On The Bossa Nova

At the risk of sounding like a press release, I wanted to make mention that this weekend marks the 30th anniversary of San Francisco’s Carnival, an annual celebration in which primarily, the city’s Caribbean, Brazilian, and greater Latin American communities gather together for two days of food, fun, and festivities. The warm climes of the city’s Latino Mission District give way to a stunning parade of samba dancers and orchestras, as well as a street fair that includes plenty of other outstanding examples of tribal music. Of course, the extremely wide breadth of ethnicities in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area results in many diverse cultures joining together for the occasion to share as one in community spirit and creative expression. As a result, others not normally associated with the celebration participate as well, like Japanese Taiko drummers, Chinese dragon dancers, Polynesian and East India artisans, and many others. Another key element that makes Carnival San Francisco unique from it’s principle counterparts in Latin America and the West Indies, is that it does not revolve specifically around Catholicism. Therefore, unlike other Carnival celebrations in predominately Christian cultures elsewhere around the world, it does not fall during the traditional pre-Lenten season of February and early March. But I believe the most significant factor that distinguishes Carnival San Francisco from its equivalents, is it’s unique blend of music. Most all Carnivals have their own discrete form of music, sounds that are indicative of the region in which it’s observed; jazz and blues in New Orleans, calypso and reggae in the Caribbean Islands, and of course the most frequently associated, the samba rhythms of Brazil. The festival in San Francisco includes all of these wonderful idioms, plus mariachi, salsa, and an array of folkloric music from across the Central and South America nations. And then don’t forget the contributions of the Asian and Polynesian cultures mentioned previously! For a music lover, it’s a heady weekend of sound and rhythmic pulsation from the four corners of the globe.

But let me be completely honest here. The real reason I bring all of this up, is because I’ve been sitting on a Brazilian mix of Tropicália music that I’ve been wanting to feature here, but I haven't had a comfortable entry point in which to showcase it. Carnival San Francisco 2008 has now conveniently provided me with one that works. In case you don't follow the thread of reason, I'll lay it down for you. Traditionally, Carnival equates with samba, Right? Samba then leads to Brazil, and by association, the popular Tropicàlia movement of years back (as well as other things). But the problem I face is that as a whole, I know next to nothing about Brazilian music. Afro-Cuban? Yes. Norteño? Yes. Brazilian? Not really. I'm familiar of course with many of the countries greatest musical exports, and as a jazz lover, I’ve heard my share of Jobim and Getz/Gilberto, and most of it I liked, but I lost interest in Brazilian music years ago, and I blame it on --- the bossa nova.

You see, I once had a neighbor, a good looking girl, stewardess I think. I liked her. She was always very sweet to me, very cordial, and good looking too, did I mention that? We lived in apartments facing outward from the side of the building. They provided no view to speak of, other than a white wall some 20 feet away (which was great for projecting movies!), but the well between ours, and the adjacent building provided more than enough natural light to prevent dreariness. However, it also provided for the amplification of all sounds that emanated from other units. With windows open, one could hear everything from the rattling of pots and pans, to radio talk shows, and the occasional muffled cries of lovemaking. It was often illuminating, sometimes comical, but mostly a drag. Well, this girl had a 120 minute mix tape that consisted of every version of ‘Girl From Ipanema’ to ever be recorded in the history of modern music. It ran the gamut from Tuvan throat singers to Alvin & The Chipmunks, I swear to God, and she played it incessantly! I was leading a band at the time, so I’d be home, locked in concentration, trying to cobble together some new material, and in the background, you know what would be echoing through the well, playing over and over again, one bloody version after another. Now of course, to change the arrangement on ‘Girl From Ipanema’ would take it utterly and completely away from the form that makes it ‘swing so cool, and sway so lovely,’ the very form that made it so popular in the first place, therefore the piece can only be done as a bossa nova. 13,000 renditions on one song, all with exactly the same arrangement! I never said anything to her because she was always so nice to me, and she was good looking too, but man, I was being bossa nova’d to death! It was excruciating, like being stuck in an elevator with a corporate accountant, or something. The song was forever ruined for me by that repeated experience, and I’ve never been able to listen to bossa nova again! True story, I kid you not.

As long as I'm being fully honest, I'll admit that don’t really know much about Tropicália either, other than it's kind of the Brazilian equivalent to British paisley pop. I do know that it arose in the late 60’s, and that it was more than merely a musical blend, it was a movement within the Brazilian arts community as a whole. The only other thing I know, is that despite it’s age, it’s the first Brazilian music that I can listen to and enjoy since my death by bossa nova.

The bulk of this mix comes directly from what is perhaps one of the most important collections of Tropicálismo --- ‘Tropicália: Ou Panis et Circenses.’ The recording features the principle architects of the musical genre, including Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Nara Leao, and Os Mutantes. I’ve added a few extra tracks (seven to be exact) to lengthen the mix, and also to illustrate the difference between the ‘masters’ and the ‘students.’ Give it a listen, if you’re not already familiar with it. It's very interesting and fun! And please, under any circumstances do not send me any mp3 files of ‘Girl From Ipanema.’ I've heard them all, and then I heard them again. And then one more time. Thanks.

1) Miserere Nobis/Gilberto Gil
2) Coracao Materno/Caetano Veloso
3) Panis et Circensis/Os Mutantes
4) Lindoneia/Nara Leao
5) Parque Indusrial/Mutanes, Gil, Veloso, and Costa
6) Geleia Geral/Gilberto Gil
7) Baby/Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso
8) Tres Caravelas (Las Tres Carabelas)/Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil
9) Enquanto Seu Lobo Nao Vem/Caetano veloso
10) Mamae, Coragem/Gal Costa
11) Hino do Senhor do Senhor do Bonfim/Veloso, Gil, Costa and Mutanes
12) Birds In My Tree/The Buttons
13) Animalia/Modulo 1000
14) Quero Companheira/Rubinho and Mauro Assumpcao
15) Intermission Music*
16) Razao de Existir/A Bolha
17) Miragem/Os Lobos
18) Mensageiro/Paulo Bagunca
19) Revolucao Organica/Marcos Valle

To download, click here.

*Not Tropicàlia, and recorded way too loud! Be prepared.