Check out these Brazilian tunes. They are recorded by a nightclub singer who lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and goes by the name of Rosana Sabenca. I visited there in 2003 with my girlfriend at the time, Esther, who grew up in Rio. A Brazilian friend of mine, Luis, a cab driver in Orlando, and former pro bassist in Rio, suggested we look up Rosana once we got to Rio and to check out her music. Rosana didn't speak a word of English, but she became fast friends with Esther, and we followed her around on her gigs for a couple of nights. Below are photos of some local musicians I got to jam with at a local dive in Rio, sitting in with a group in the nearby resort town of Buzios, a party/jam session at Esther's family's home. (I paid Rosana to come there and sing as if it were a regular gig.) Enjoy. Rick |
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 Rosana and a couple of musicians playing bossa novas at a dive in downtown Rio |
 A guitarist who performs regularly with Rosana |
 They get creative in finding percussion instruments. |
 Party at Esther's aunt's house in Rio. Esther's sister, Elair (pronounced el-eye-EE-uh) sang sambas beautifully. |
 Jamming with Rio musicians |
 Rosana fronting her band at an outdoor concert in the resort city of Cabo Frio |
 Getting into the Brazilian spirit |
 Sitting in with a local band in the resort city of Buzios. |
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 Esther and me at a music store in Rio |
 Esther fooling around with the mic at the Vinicius de Moraes Cafe, a couple of blocks from Ipanema Beach, the world-famous place that inspired Jobim and Moraes to write about that tall, tan and young girl. |
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