What about your trip

     The gentle sound of guitars drifting across the tropical air whether it be in the market square in the borough of Laranjeiras or by the beach in Ipanema, introduced me to the sound called "Chorinho" - The crying or weeping of guitars.

     The music started about the same time as jazz and is free flowing and improvised. he lead instrument is called a "Cavaquinho", a small guitar and the music is always instrumental in form, but many times has a flute or sax amongst the various guitars. The undulating but easy listening rhythm is controlled by the guitars and usually one tambourine.

     "Chorinho" fell out of fashion for a time but seems to be making a come back, especially on Saturday mornings around the town, where the musicians gather quite a crowd.

     A place not to be missed if you are in Rio is, "Centro de Cultura do
Carioca". A club or bar in the City of Rio, near the club land of the
district of Lapa, that appeals to people of all types and ages and has
very good Samba, Chorinho, Popular Brazilian Music and always has a first class group and singers. 15 R$ (four pounds Sterling) entrance fee and tins of beer for about 60p each. Caipirinha, a large one costs one pound fifty.

Book a table and arrive about 9pm or you will have to stand all the night long. A place, that all seem to be letting their hair down and having a great time as Brasilians seem to do well and I know that I certainly was. The only tourists, if you could call them that, were an American surfing photographer, who had lived here for four years, an Argentinean, who had fallen in love, both with Rio and a girl during Carnival.

As the club empted about 3.30am, my friends and I went to sit by the sea in a district called Leme. A bar called "Sindicato do Chopp" (Union of the Draft Beers) I knew it well from a past magazine shoot and there we relaxed and downed a last drink before that magic hour when the sun rose and my lovely cool Princess, turned into Sleeping Beauty and I turned back into a frog.

Sent by Tony Annis (11-03-08)