Café Do Choro's long awaited second album - Trenzinho Da Montanha (Little Mountain Train) features all original chorinho compositions (traditional Brazilian coffee-house classical music) by Australian multi-instrumentalist Jenni Bell, featuring members of Brisbane Choro Ensemble.
Trenzinho da Montanha (a follow-up to 2016's 'Around the Town' album) presents more rural, countryside imagery, natural themes and various stories (with songs such as Trenzinho da Montanha, Choro de Fleurieu, Forró da Fogueira, and Sonhos do pôr do sol), nostalgic pieces like Vovó e Neto - an interplay between a grandfather & grandson, played between two instruments flute and violão 7 cordas; Tasmaniana - depicting the mysterious natural wonder of a forest scene in the island at the bottom of mainland Australia), a tune about longlost friends young and old (Amigos Ausentes - a tribute to founding Brisbane Choro member and composer Wade Gregory); written to celebrate the birth of band member's son Miles; to a whimsical, fictitious tale of nocturnal animal antics (Noite dos Tatus - Night of the Armadillos).
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Choro (‘cry’ in Portuguese) emerged in Rio de Janeiro the late 1800s - early 1900s to become hugely popular in the 1920s-30s. Originally enjoyed amongst groups of musicians simply for the love of making music together, players would gather around a table in one of the salons and cafés of Rio for sessions that often ran from evening until the early hours of the morning. Today Choro still retains that feeling of ‘jamming together’, although it is also often performed on stage and even in large venues and concert halls.
Choro is an eclectic melange of Jazz, classical and folkloric music, with a strong rhythmic foundation that draws heavily on the African influences so pervasive in many areas of Brazilian culture. Melodic lines are often rapid, syncopated and complex, requiring a certain level of virtuosity, but there are also slow songs that melt the heart. Harmonies are sophisticated, sometimes quite adventurous, and also tend to grab at the heart-strings. Some Choros draw on influences from other Brazilian genres such as Samba or Forró. Most tunes are instrumental only, though a few have lyrics. As in Jazz, improvisation is encouraged.
The main regular instruments are:
• Flute
• Seven string Guitar (Sete Cordas)
• Cavaquinho (miniature 4 string guitar)
• Pandeiro (a tambourine-like hand drum instrument that mimics a drum-kit)
- but many other instruments such as clarinet, bandolim (Brazilian mandolin), sanfona (accordion), trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piccolo, violin, piano and various percussion are also used.
While there are many old favourites that have become standard repertoire, Choro remains a ‘living genre’ in that over the years many different composers have continued to write new Choros, and a number of composers (including a number in Australia) continue to do so today.
Forró is an umbrella term denoting various styles of folkloric dance music from North Eastern Brazil. Hugely popular amongst Brazilian communities everywhere, it has a rural flavour, often with lyrics describing agricultural themes, including the difficulties of having to leave the countryside to find work in the cities. Standard instruments are sanfona (accordion), a large triangle and zabumba (large drum) but guitars, rabeca (Brazilian fiddle), flute, bass, cavaquinho and various percussion are also used.
released December 5, 2020
Dedicated to John (Johnny) Sangster (1928-1995) - Australian trombonist, trumpeter, cornet player, drummer/percussionist, vibraphonist, who contributed so many fine compositions to the Australian Jazz catalogue. A colourful character, his collections of compositions include 'theHobbit Suite', and 3 x 'Lord of the Rings' albums. Despite all his foibiles, he was something of a genius, but sadly his music rarely recieves airplay these days, and his musical legacy remains largely unrecognized.
Musicians/ Personel:
Jenni Bell : alto flute, piccolo flute, violin, viola, rabeca (Brazilian violin), keys, percussion
Eddie Gazani : violão 7 cordas (7 string guitar), 6 string guitar, cavaquinho, vocals on 'I don't know where I left my tan-tan'
Jason Paprika Bell : pandeiro, tan-tan, zabumba, various percussion, shaker, prato e faca (plate & knife)
Kay Anne Sullivan: sanfona (accordion)
Ricardo Bona : sanfona (accordion) + solo on 'Forró da Fogueira'
Peter Freeman : bass guitar, uke bass
Greta Hunter : double bass on 'Noite dos Tatus'
*all songs composed & arranged by Jenni Bell
*Portuguese translation on track 12 lyrics by Eddie Gazani
Produced & Directed by Jenni Bell
Recorded at Brisbane Voice & Music Studios
voiceandmusicstudio.com by Eddie Gazani.
Mixed by Peter Freeman & Jason Bell
Mastered by Peter Freeman
Cover print 'Gembrook Train' by Melbourne Artist Harry Rosengrave
Back Illustration by Paul Lennon
Disc Chalk Art by
johnbelltype.com
Inside Illustration & Design/Layout by J Bell
℗ J.G Bell Music 2020 © J.G Bell Music 2020
