The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil

By Chris McGowan, Ricardo Pessanha, Chris McGowan

Book Overview

An encyclopaedic survey of Brazilian popular music that ranges over samba, bossa nova, MPB, jazz and instrumental music, and tropical rock, as well as the music of Bahia and neo-Afro trends, and the music of the Northeast. The authors have interviewed a wide variety of performers like Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Carlinhos Brown, and Airto Moreira, US fans like Lyle Mays, George Duke and Paul Winter, executive Andre Midani and music historian Zuza Homem de Mello. In this new edition, first published in 1991, the authors have expanded their examination of the historical roots of Brazilian music, added new photographs, expanded their discussion of social issues like racism, updated the maps and added a new final chapter highlighting the most recent trends in Brazilian music. The authors have expanded their coverage of the axe music movement, and includes profiles of significant emerging artists like Marisa Monte, Chico Cosar and Daniela Mercury.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566395453
• ISBN13: 9781566395458
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Temple University Press
• Length: 229 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Standard Reference For Brazilian Music

The best book about Brazilian music in English, The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil is a beautifully written, in-depth guide to samba, bossa, choro, forró, maracatu, and other Brazilian genres. The 2009 edition, the book's third, upgrades an already invaluable musical resource, and adds background about popular contemporary styles like funk carioca (including its "proibidão" banned form),...

The best English-language overview of Brazilian music

You could fill a book with all the information I _don't_ know about Brazilian music... In fact, these guys already have! Concise, conversational, informative and very well laid out, this is an exceptionally readable book. Chapters on samba, bossa nova, tropicalia, forro and jazz include focused biographical sketches of dozens of key artists, as well as succinct historical information about the progress of Brazilian music...

Readable, enjoyable summary of Brazilian music

An excellent book for anyone who wants to explore Brazilian music beyond the well-known classics. Helps place current and past musicians in their historical contexts; helps you understand who influenced whom, etc. The book will pay for itself just by helping you guide your ever-growing collection of Brazilian CD's (hard to stop once you get started)!

Loved The Interviews & Quotes

"The Brazilian Sound" is a great read and very informative. I especially liked the quotes from the interviews the authors did with Brazilian musicians like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento and Carlinhos Brown, as well as Americans such as Lyle Mays and Herbie Mann who have long been associated with Brazil's music.

The Bible of the Brazilian Music Scene

Of all world music varieties, Brazilian music is among the most vital, consistent and compelling. McGowan and Pessanha nail their subject cold in this book -- the most comprehensive omnibus available on the subject of Brazilian music. From MPB to Milton, it's all here!This encyclopedic work includes hundreds of photos, complete historical information on all styles, and extended discographies ideal for starting and growing...