Notes from Laranjeiras

I'm here in Rio de Janeiro for one week. We began with a great recording session with Armando Marçal, to add percussion to the Chico/Anthony recording. Ivan Lins was supposed to arrive to put vocals on the Wayne Shorter song "When You Dream" but had to postpone until later in the month. Unfortunately I won't be able to be here when he and Dori Caymmi make their contributions, but they are certainly in good hands with Chico. The rest of the week, I have been seeing different parts of this tropical city in the midst of its own Spring: some days being quite rainy and wet, the leaves of the trees heavy and dripping, other days providing perfect weather to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Ipanema and Arpoador. We've heard Chiquinho Chagas' fun Forro band at Carioca da Gema; Teresa Cristina & Grupo Semente at Centro Cultural Carioca; Leny Andrade & Gilson Peranzzeta at Teatro Rival (with the incredible drummer Herivelton Silva); Scott Feiner's Pandeiro Jazz at Bis; and an endless Roda de Samba last night at Comuna do Semente, featuring the 7-string guitarist Edu Krieger. I want to spend some time learning songs of Samba and Choro, and to see more of this enchanted place. More later!