São Paulo – The 31st edition of the Brasil Jazz Fest, to be held in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro starting March 30, will have performances of an Arab artist. Musician Anouar Bhahem will bring his quartet to the country for two performances.
According to information by the festival’s organization, Tunisian Brahem will play his lute sided by the clarone of Klaus Gesing, the bass of Bjorn Meyer and percussion of Khaled Yassine. In Brazil, the group will present the concert “The astounding eyes of Rita”, taken from the same-name album released in 2009.
Djibouti, Lebanon and the Arab Spring, the movement that started in 2011 and took down governments in Middle East and North Africa countries, are topics covered by Brahem, who was born in Tunis in 1957 and started his first studies in music in the Tunisian capital. In his compositions, the sound of the lute joins Arab folk songs and traditional jazz. The instrument is similar to an acoustic guitar and widely used by Arab songwriters.
Brahem told ANBA that he’s “anxious” for the performances in Brazil. “It will be my first time in a South American country. I’m very happy in being able to perform in São Paulo and Rio and also very anxious, since it will be a completely new audience for me”, he said via phone after a rehearsal in Paris.
The festival will also have performances by piano player Herbie Hancock and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, both North Americans, and by Brazilian mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, among others. Tickets for São Paulo performances are sold out, but there are still tickets for Rio de Janeiro.
Brasil Jazz Fest – Anouar Brahem
In São Paulo – sold out
Auditório Ibirapuera
Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, Ibirapuera
Anouar Brahem Quartet – April 2, 9 PM
In Rio de Janeiro – tickets from BRL 50 to 150 (USD 13 to 40.75)
Vivo Rio
Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 85 – Parque do Flamengo
Anouar Brahem Quartet – April 3, 8 PM
Further information: http://www.brasiljazzfest.com.br/wpjazz/
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
