Flavio Chamis: “Tones of Nature”

MIM:  “All of my work was inspired by the Atlantic Forest”  This statement by bossa nova -founder Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994) summarizes the profound relationship with nature that influenced this seminal force in Brazilian music and its lies in the center of the extraordinary 1994 documentary Vision of Paradise, directed by Oscar nominee Walter Salles.

The “Tones of Nature” program, led by Brazilian composer Flavio Chamis, spotlights Jobim’s ecological opus, featuring Jobim’s works alongside original compositions and excerpts from the film. 

I’m not a huge lover of jazz.  And although this show was samba, jazz’s latin cousin, I still wondered at my wisdom for signing up for the show.  I did, however, enjoy myself.  The beats were catching and danceable, the musicians enjoyed their craft, and there was obviously a love for Brazilian music and culture. 

The second half of the show was dedicated to Jobim and was a beautiful tribute to his music and his love of the rainforests of Brazil.  They showed 2 portions of film that helped tie you to his music and truly understand that area of the world.  The birds, the forest, the coast-line of his homeland is beautiful and worth saving.

Cimarron

www.CimarronoOnline.com

MIM: Cimarron is the most accomplished Llanera group in Columbia. A seven-piece ensemble lead by harpist and composer Carlos Rojas, tha ave been working for over twenty years. These musicians are immersed in the sounds of 'los Llanos'. The seek to explore and experiment with their rich heritage while retaining the essence of the tradition.

Los Llanos Orientales are vast plains that stretch from Columbia into Venezuela. The mestizo people that inhabit these savannahs on the great Orinoco River are descendents of Spanish settlers, African slaves, and indigenous Indians. This is cattle-rearing country, where life revolves around country ranches and music accompanies the daily working tasks such as milking and cattle drives. Most striking is the festive dance music called joropo, a fiercely virtuoso display of rippling melodies played on harp, bandola, and cuatro, and accompanied by bass, cajon, and maracas. This rapid and joyous music is sung with high-pitched voices reminiscent of Andalusian gipsy roots.

What a fun show!! I was blown away by this concert – the energy, the tradition, and the musical styles. Frequently I feel like I’m exposed by a whole new world in the theatre and that was definitely true of Cimarron.

First, the ensemble includes a harp, several guitars, a fiddle, and several drummers. It almost sounds like a joke in the making. The female lead-singer was the weakest musician but the music was so authentic no one cared. The primary drummer was incredible, arranging so many different sounds and beats from one instrument! And they all could and did dance.

I was enchanted through the majority of the concert. I felt transported to Colombia and enjoyed the trip very much. An example: the woman only spoke Spanish onstage and we were surprised to hear them speak English afterwards.