It is so rare to see Portuguese-language poems translated into English
and published in the U. S. that the release of an anthology of Brazilian
poets should be enough reason for celebration. It is a shame though that
most of the poems gathered in Nothing the Sun Could Not Explain seem
bland and disconnected from the Brazilian soul.
Nothing the Sun Could Not Explain: 20 Contemporary
Brazilian Poets, edited by Michael Palmer, Régis Bonvicino,
and Nélson Ascher (Sun & Moon Classics, 312 pp., $15.95 paper)
By
The latest for-mature-audiences edition of Brazil Carnaval is
out and it again features all the rhythms, debauchery and permissiveness
of Brazil’s yearly bacchanalia. The video tape brings the parade of Rio’s
major samba schools, including the 1997 champion, with an explanation of
how they are judged, and also makes incursions at some balls and the street
Carnaval in Salvador, Bahia. Brazil Carnaval 1997, released by Washington,
DC-based A-VID International, has a treat for samba aficionados: a Salgueiro
samba school rehearsal, in which sambistas work themselves into
a frenzy. For information or to order the video call (202) 547-3054.
Tropical
Trumpet
There is a little of everything: rock, funk, contemporary and Brazilian
jazz, Amazonian climate, and a lot of samba in trumpeter Randy Brecker‘s
latest album. With Into the Sun Brecker shows how deep and sincere
his love for Brazilian music is. “The seeds of this album,” said Brecker
recently, “were planted in the fall of 1979—my first trip to Brazil. The
beauty and the spirit of the people, their sensibility and love of life,
kept me there many extra joyous days.” The romance got more serious in
the coming years until the musician surrendered, declaring himself an “addicted
lover of Brazil and Brazilians.” Into the Sun is being released
by Concord Vista.
Beauty Feast
Brazucas (Brazilians overseas) are busy again selecting the fairest
of their girls in several regional competitions across the United States.
Come October 25 the chosen ones will have a chance to become Miss Brasil-USA
1997, when all the winners get together in Miami for the pageant’s ultimate
party. On September 28, for the sixth year in a row, three contestants
will be selected on the West Coast to represent San Diego, Los Angeles
and San Francisco in the finals. The California pageant, sponsored by Rio
Roma Travel, is happening at the Bahia Cabana restaurant in downtown San
Francisco. For information and tickets you can call (415) 921-3353.
Starting Over
Although born in the U.S., Philippe Seabra is more green and
yellow than many Brazilians. For 18 years Seabra lived in Brazil and in
the ’80s he created the rock group Plebe Rude, which together with Paralamas
do Sucesso and Legião Urbana constituted the movimento de Brasília,
a movement that revolutionized rock in Brazil. Now, Seabra is starting
an American career at New York’s New York Café with the band Daybreak
Gentlemen. He composed a series of new songs all with English lyrics for
this new phase in his life. The musician didn’t lose his stinging social
conscious style of writing songs. Daybreak Gentlemen, with tunes
from the New York show, will also be the title of Seabra’s solo CD to be
soon released.