Letters

Land of the Free?

On Sunday, June 30, I went to celebrate with my Brazilian brothers and sisters at the intersection of Broadway & Steinway Street in Astoria. It was about 9 AM and there were many Brazilians with flags cheering in each corner of the intersection not blocking traffic. Soon a huge amount of New York Police Department officers from the 114th Precinct landed at the place with their sticks out. Asking for the cars not to honk their horns and to put away the Brazilian flags.

Also, they told the people in the corners to disperse and "go to the patios of your houses, to the parks but not here. If you don't move we will have to arrest you." I believe our constitution grants us the right to congregate. This was a peaceful crowd that wanted to celebrate the victory of the World Cup. They were not drinking and they were not violent. They were tax-paying families whose children are learning to not like the NYPD. I wonder if the NYPD would have had the same reaction if it was the World Series. What happened to their Community Affairs staff?

Manuel Lacayo
S. Ozone Park, New York

Dance Time

Our thanks to the Brazilian football team for their wonderful display of football. When it is football the favorite are always the Brazilians for us. Celebrations began in Calicut too and have not yet ended. Sunday night was simply terrific, hundreds of people streamed into the streets waving Brazilian flags and posters of Brazilian players. Some youngsters even painted their face in green and yellow and danced to the tune of music, fireworks cracked across the sky. The victory sparkled wild scenes of celebrations at Calicut beach also where cars drove blaring horns loudly paying homage to the Brazilian team.

Vasisht.M.C.
Calicut, India

Go, Brazil

As a German I'm very proud that Brazil made it to the final of the 2002 World Cup! Wish you all the luck!

Karl G. Rumpel
Germany

In Praise of Futebol

To the rest of the world the big news this week is not a possible war between Pakistan and India but the World Cup in Seoul, Korea. We recently returned from a trip to France. While there when I told the French, "Je suis Brésilien", their faces would light up and they immediately assumed I knew everything about the upcoming World Cup. How could you be a Brazilian and not know? I knew enough that France had a chance at the championship (Senegal took care of that ) and Brazil had a poor chance.

Americans do not appreciate that soccer or futebol is a game that takes no money to play, no special equipment or fields. It is a sport available to the poorest country, and the poorest child. Nor do you need to be a Neanderthal.

As a child in Rio, my birthplace, I often saw kids make a ball of old newspapers and play on the streets—both free. The beaches to this day are their playground. Every kid could play. I remember a young black kid with one leg and the cheapest, crudest set of crutches, playing futebol on the beach. He fell a lot but he played. Pelé, one of the world's greatest, came from a poor orphanage. Not being great soccer enthusiasts somehow separates the United States from the rest of the world. Perhaps our new immigrant population will change that.

George Pichel
Dana Point, California

Not So Beautiful Game

I am not a Brazilian, but I think your website is simply amazing. It is a true wonder that the Brazilian football team made me want to discover your website even more. The Brazilians came to Malaysia and managed to beat our boys by 4-0. Congratulations! I am more concerned about what happens to the football clubs in Brazil and Mr Alex Bellos ("More than a game a soul trip" - www.brazzil.com/p27may02.htm) makes a strong point that the football clubs have succumbed to high level corruption. I simply think that I need more information on this article.

I am a student and I intend to base my research on corruption in this story. Ronaldo, The Phenomenon himself, is rather quiet about this case, but I think it is good to inform a wider audience about his suffering. I simply think that corruption is a real nightmare. I will be taking my business ethics course this semester and I 'd like to get Mr. Alex Bello's e-mail address so that I will contact him directly and get clear, fresh, first-hand information

Lina
Via Internet

Racist? Not Us.

Your piece on musician Wilson Simonal ("In the Black List"  http://www.brazzil.com/p07jul00.htm) sounds like bad American propaganda. There is no racism at all involving Simonal. I knew him personally. Brazilians are not racist. Of course, he dated blonde and very young girls, but who doesn't? I do, and lots of Brazilians do it too, and it is not necessary to be rich and famous to do this. I personally don't believe he was involved with the military regime, but who knows. Only he and God can answer that. Bad things happen anywhere. Even right here in the USA there is a lot of injustice going on.

Via Internet
waldyrm@aol.com

Sounds Sweet

We would like to thank Brazzil magazine for the article on Ney Matagrosso ("Sweet Sixty" - www.brazzil.com/musmay02.htm) last month. Kirsten's article was very informative and is the best that we have read on the singer. She really shows good insight and expertise in her piece on Ney and she is a really good writer as demonstrated by her writings for Brazzil.

Brian C and Carminha
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Recognition, at Last

Hello Bruce, my name is Rocco. I've been in Los Angeles for about 12 years. I was born and raised in São Paulo and I've been playing drums professionally for many years now. Back in the 80's, in Brazil, I was part of a band called Tokyo, which later became Supla. In LA I've been part of a couple of bands that have been signed to major labels (1000 Monalisas, Fluorescein). I'm now 33 years old.

My wife, Jennifer, is a California native. She is a songwriter/guitarist/singer and had a great pop band on Interscope a couple of years ago. We're working on our own music amongst other projects. My brother Eduardo Bid lived in Los Angeles for many years and now is back in Sao Paulo where he's an active producer/musician. He fronts a great Big Band called FunkComoLeGusta. They do a lot of Brazilian styles, with an excellent group of players. He also produced Chico Science last album and was close friends with Suba. I know Mario Caldato well and have worked with him as a drummer in several projects.

The reason I'm writing you today is to tell you that I just got a hold of Brazzil's issue with Trio Mocotó story ("Unerring Light" - http://www.brazzil.com/musapr02.htm) and really enjoyed. I've been a huge Jorge Ben/Chico Buarque/Vinicius fan (60s and 70s) and is great to see them getting some serious recognition after so many years (in the dark). Keep up the great work. Paz.

Rocco Bidlovski
Los Angeles, California

Orpheus Aficionado

Love your magazine! I've been reading it for a few years now. I am a jazz aficionado who was introduced to Brazilian music and culture through my love of jazz and bossa nova music. From those experiences I have broadened my knowledge of true Brazilian music and culture through the cinema; music from the great Brazilian musicians and composers; books; and of course, your interestingly beautiful magazine.

Speaking of your magazine, I would surely love for you to do an article (or direct me to one that you have already done) on the two central characters, Marpessa Dawn and Breno Melo from the 1959 Marcel Camus film Orfeu Negro. I would love to know some bio background on these two gorgeous actors who fascinated me over twenty years ago when I was first introduced to this beautiful film. Are they still with us? Did this film help their careers take off? Etc, etc. And what about the actor, Mr. Da Silva, who played Death? And if I'm not asking too much already, photos, photos, photos, especially of Ms. Dawn. Boy, was I in love with her! Hope you can quench my thirst with this information. I love your magazine! Thanking you in advance,

Kevin A. Johnson
Union City, Georgia
bopdoc1018@hotmail.com

Those Words

I have been searching for the lyrics to the tunes—at least some of the tunes—from the Sergio Mendes album Brasileiro for almost 10 years. I have the CD, listen to it at least three times a week while exercising. I would like to have some one tell me where I can find either a Sergio Mendes website, a Brasileiro lyrics website, or anyone that knows the words to the songs. Any help from you? I just discovered the interview with Carlinhos Brown who wrote several of the Brasileiro songs. I would certainly appreciate any help, and thank you...

Via Internet
mulher@bellsouth.net

The Joy of Discovery

Dear Mr. Gilman, after decades of interest in classical music, old and new, I discovered—not Villa-Lobos—but music by Barrios and Lauro, which I absolutely love. Thanks to you, I discovered Kuarup Records and the awesome string quartets of Villa-Lobos. I can see that Latin American music, or even just Brazilian music, is a whole Brave New World, rife with the ferment of creative music-making. What I've been trying to do is limit myself to the best guitar recordings of Latin American music that I can find.

Recently, to take me to the $15 minimum at the Berkshire Record Outlet, I added a $1.99 Klavier recording by the Santa Fe Guitar Quartet of Argentina. There is one piece on it by Pixinguinha called "Passatempo". I like it better than anything else on the CD, by far. My first acquaintance with Pixinguinha. My second was your online essay on him—which really "sold" me ("100 Years of Choro" - http://www.brazzil.com/musjul96.htm) . I also saw your discography.

When I searched for Brazil CDs, all I got was an outfit selling software for duplicating VCRs and copying VHSs to VCR format. I went to Kuarup Records. They list six CDs (one or more may be sets) with a search on Pixinguinha. Thanks for publishing online.

Sheldon Lichter

Eugene, Oregon

Teacher, Anyone?

I came across your website and noted your comments about differences between continental Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese ("Brazilian Spoken Here" - http://www.brazzil.com/p47sep98.htm) and wondered if you could help me in my search to find a teacher to teach me to speak Brazilian Portuguese.

I live and work in London and am having great difficulty in finding a teacher or a class where I can learn the Brazilian language. Ideally I would like to find someone who can spare a few hours a week giving private lessons or even a class where I can learn the basic as after searching magazines and the net, can't find anyone or any classes.

If at all possible, do you know of anyone in London who could spare a few hours a week earn some money and teach a total beginner? They don't have to be fully qualified, just patient and a good talker and can be flexible with the hours as I work shifts. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time and if not, sorry for being so bold.

Darron Bishop
London, England
DaBishop@lehman.com

Brazilian Beat

Hi, I have been assigned to write abut Brazilians living in New York for Newsday, where I am a reporter and was hoping that someone at your publication could talk to me a bit about the community, and hopefully, refer me to other people who I should talk to. Please email back and tell me when would be a good time for us to talk.

Jacqueline Rivkin
New York, New York

Making Contact

Beautiful article on the Ilê Aiyê band ("Life School" - http://www.brazzil.com/musnov98.htm). I would like to get in touch with the group. Do you have an address or phone number where they can be contacted?

Violet Jean-Baptiste
acdaguy@solutions2000.net

Ticket to Come

I'll be much obliged to you if you could only give me a few pointers in how to bring to NY a Brazilian national and child, in order to survive. They are not doing well in Bauru and are desperate. We arrived to the conclusion that a a trip to USA will solve a lot. Over here she could work and educate her son.

Iván Negrón

sombradestino@aol.com

Memories of the Promise Land

We arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in December 1935. We were met by my father who had already been there for six months. The first thing he forgot to tell us was not to sit on the cement benches, which were out in the sun. We, my Mother , my sister and myself, found out in a hurry why we shouldn't. You could have fried an egg on them.

We didn't stay in Rio de Janeiro for very long as dad had to get back to his job. He was a mechanical engineer for the São João Del Rey Mining Co, the second largest gold mine in the world at that time. It was in Morro Velho/Nova Lima in the state of Minas Gerais.

Having arrived from cold and wet England to the warm and sunny tropics was a treat we could hardly believe. The perfumy smells from the flowers and buds on the trees and bushes was a delight to your senses. One scent after another and all of them pleasing, even to my tender nose. I was ten years old at that time, and really couldn't care less about the smell of plants even as nice as they were.

The land was so rich and fertile you wouldn't believe all that could grow there and how fast it would grow, and yet there were so very few weeds. I remember one day our cook threw an over ripe tomato out of the kitchen window. It landed against a chain link fence. The next season, without any care of any kind, we were overrun with tomato plants. We couldn't eat them all, we had to give them away.

We had two mango trees in the back yard. I believe they were of the pear mango variety, which is the best. I soon grew to like mangoes very much. Our neighbor behind us  had three loganberry trees and they did not like the fruit. Needless to say we gorged ourselves on loganberry pie, loganberries and cream and just plain loganberries right off the tree. Talk about living in heaven on earth. this was it.

Because of the temperature, our school day started at 7:00 AM and went 'til 1:30 PM. The rest of most days were spent in the swimming pool provided by the Company. The Tarzan movies were popular then and he was my inspiration on learning how to swim. All of us were like fish in the water. You couldn't help but become a swimmer.

The company also provided tennis courts and a cricket/soccer field all of which were very well and frequently used. The temperature was shear heaven. The heaviest article of clothing ever needed was a sweater in winter. In the summer the temperature was in the mid eighties. We had rain and storms but they didn't seem to last very long. The roads in Morro Velho/Nova Lima were hard packed dirt or clay but they never turned to mud during a rain. I could never figure that out.

I was told to watch out for snakes and tarantulas. Yet all the three and a half years we were there I only saw one snake and one tarantula. I did see a Toucan, that's a bird with a large beak. Also saw a few very tiny monkeys and I can't remember what their name was. Also saw a zillion butterflies of all kinds and colors. Very beautiful. One day I dug under the roots of a tree and came up with a handful of clear crystals as big as my thumb.

It wasn't until many years later that I found out that Minas Gerais meant General Mines and that the state of Minas Gerais was the greatest gem collecting area in the world. If I had only known. It wasn't until forty years later that I became a rock hound. And would have given anything to be back in Brazil again. You know, that wouldn't be a bad place to retire. I'll have to give that some serious thought.

Frederick D. Williams
Via Internet

Marine Help

I'm student of veterinary in Barcelona (Spain). I'm going to São Paulo this summer and I'm really interested in participating in any program related to marine mammals. If you know someone or somewhere to contact to get information, please can you send it to meritxell_clavell@hotmail.com 

Meritxell Clavell Pujol
Barcelona, Spain

Job for Me?

It was great to read your article. I live in New Zealand with my wife who is Brazilian and misses her family badly. She wants to move back home to be with them. The only reason we haven't is because I thought I couldn t get a job in Brazil. I own a barbershop in New Zealand, but because my Portuguese sux badly there is no way I would be able to set up shop in São Paulo. Your article was real food for thought. If you can send me any other info that would be great. Cheers, mate! 

Daniel
Auckland, New Zealand
fernandaaugusto@hotmail.com

Want My Globo TV

My wife is Brazilian. I met her while I was working in Salvador. We live in the US now. She really misses Globo TV and would like it to be available here. From what I understood while I was there this is obviously the dominating media company of the country.

Gary Davis
Via Internet

Chorinho Addict

Hi Bruce, I read with great interest your article, "Persistence of Vision," (http://www.brazzil.com/musdec98.htm) in which you interviewed Mario Aratanha of recording company Kuarup. I am a mandolin player in Los Gatos, California (by San Jose), and have pretty much been playing nothing but chorinhos for the past two years. I'm in the continual process of learning new melodies and am making good progress.

I've been trying to expand my repertoire. I have purchased about half of Kuarup's inventory in the recent past and have been extremely happy with their CDs. It's very easy to order from them with their English translation function. I very much like the quality of the Kuarup CDs and the people there.

Jim Bryant
Los Gatos, California

Where Are You?

I used to be a student of Paulo Moura and I have lost contact with him. I just finished a huge work I would like to dedicate to him. Do you happen to have his e-mail address?

David Livingston Laing
elo@ix.netcom.com

Vinicius's Voice

Wonderful to read Vinicius's poems again. I adored his poems when living in Portugal in the 60's. Would I be able to find his poems on CDs now as I have lost the vinyl recordings I had in those days?

HeatherChapman
heather@cheekychapman.fslife.co.uk

Chance for a Teacher

First of all, sorry my English. I know that I need to improve it. I have a Language School here in Brazil and I'd like to know if you can help me in finding an American interested in being a teacher here. Thank you very much.

Fernanda.
fernandapaz2002@yahoo.com.br

Thanks for Nothing

Thank you. I knew there had to be a program out there somewhere that would take care of this, and I have finally found it. You may not think much of this thank you I am giving you, seeing as to the fact that I am only 12 years old, but, all the same, thank you. When I am old enough, and wise enough, for that matter, I too, shall take Brazil into consideration. Yours forever truly and sincerely,

Abigail L. Entz
Via Internet

In Search of Lumiar

Dear Brazzil, thank you very much for your fascinating write-up on Lumiar and Almir Chediak. I see lots of interesting stuff on his own web site and wonder how, in the U.S., one could purchase his songbooks. Many thanks for any light you can shed.

Dan Keller
bassman@keller.com

Very Simple

Your website states the song "Águas de Março" is the top Brazilian song. The definitive version of "Águas de Março" is by Tom and Elis on the Elis & Tom album. My question to you is simple: What are the last four lines that Elis sings at the end of "Águas de Março"?

If this is the best Brazilian song, surely you or someone there can listen to Elis & Tom's duet and tell me what are the last four  lines that Elis sings. If you don't know, could you please take the time to listen to their Águas de Março and tell me what Elis says in her last four lines.

Dr. Paul Stuart
Via Internet

Still Royalty

I read your article "Ends and Butts" (http://www.brazzil.com/p06oct00.htm) and it sounds really cool! Can you tell me how I can get some video copies of the Brazilian shows that you mentioned. I too must confess that Brazilian girls with big butts totally rule the world!!

Can you also help me out with information about looking for movies from Brazil from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and now? Brazilian girls with big butts in skimpy bikinis is all I'm interested in...Can you mail me back with some solutions?

PS—Brazilian girls Buttocks will A-L-W-A-Y-S be kings!!!!

Carl
Via Internet

Little Tidbits

Les escribo con la esperanza de que me ayuden en una pesquisa sobre música brasileira. Soy de Buenos Aires, disculpen que no puedo hacerlo en portugués. Aunque lo leo pefectamente. Mi nombres es Jorge A. Pítari. Amo la música brasileira. Necesito saber lo siguiente:

El samba "Madureira Chorou," de Carvalhinho y Júlio Monteiro fue compuesto en homenaje a Chico Alves o a la vedette Zaquia Jorge?

En qué año fue compuesto?

Cómo puedo obtener las biografías de Julio Monteiro y Carvalhinho?

Maracangalha, de Dorival Caymmi, en qué año fue compuesta?

Yo tengo diferentes opiniones y me gustaría que Uds. me dieran la suya. Le agradecería mucho si me ayudaran de alguna manera. Un gran saludo desde Buenos Aires.

Jorge A. Pítari
jorgepit@fibertel.com.ar 

Brazzil Surprise

Conheci a revista Brazzil através do Simeão Costa, proprietário da loja Taste of Brazil aqui onde estou morando atualmente, Austin, Texas. Confesso que fiquei surpresa com a existência da revista e do quão completo é seu editorial. Pude perceber que sua revista tem um futuro promissor, e que nós brasileiros somos carentes de um informativo desse tipo aqui.

Com um conteúdo atrativo e diversificado, a revista Brazzil realmente me pareceu convidativa e por essa razão quero lhes oferecer meu serviço, já que posso entender mais o público brasileiro e escrever em português também. Como profissional de comunicação visitando os EUA, meu desejo é obter um emprego na área, mesmo que eu precise me mudar de cidade.

Com grande experiência em vários meios de comunicação eu acredito que minhas habilidades possam ser úteis para sua Revista. Minha experiência inclui design e implementação de campanhas publicitárias, organização de eventos e editoração eletrônica, apresentação, redação e produção para televisão, e conhecimentos na área administrativa.

Para mim seria um imenso prazer poder fazer parte de sua equipe. Para isso preciso de um patrocínio para conseguir um visto de trabalho aqui. Estou a disposição para discutirmos propostas disponíveis.

Tais de Camargo
taiscamargo@hotmail.com

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