Various Artists: Capoeira Brazil CD

The capoeira is the poetry of body movement'; a choreography for two participants, in which the ginga (swinging motion) brings to mind images of feathers dancing to the sound of the berimbau (a musical bow of African origin, with a single wire string and a gourd resonator; the wire string is struck with a wooden stick; the instrument is capable of producing a great variety of sounds).
Apart from the berimbau, other instruments include the agog (cowbell), pandeiro (tambourine), surdo (bass drum) and congas, triangle, maracas, and so on.
Originally, the word capoeira (from the Tupi kapu-era', meaning clearing') referred to the area where the African slaves, who were brought to Brazil more than four centuries ago, mostly from Angola and Zaire, trained in the art of (weaponless) self-defence. Their training consisted of dance-like movements of the hands and feet.
Over the years, the capoeira has become both a dance and one of the martial arts, typical of Brazil and with strict rules. Such is its success that many schools (sports centres or arts centres) devoted exclusively to the capoeira have been opened in Brazil and other parts of the world since the 1990s.
To pay tribute to this art, four Brazilian artists have decided to pool their talents.
The guitarist and composer Jorge Henrique De Amorin Lima, known as Jorginho', is the musical director of this project.
He is accompanied by Claudionor Gabriel de Oliveira, known as No de Oliveira', who sings, composes, plays percussion and the berimbau, and teaches the capoeira, and José Luis Nascimento, known as Ze Luis', who is a capoeirista (an adept at the capoeira), a singer, and one of the finest Brazilian percussionists living in France.
The artistic director is Nazaré Pereira, who composed most of the pieces presented on this recording. She accompanies the trio with her very distinctive voice.

1. Rasteira            
2. Sarava Companheiro  
3. Janaina Cantou      
4. Bahia, Veia Bahia   
5. Adeus Candia        
6. Baiao Do Penta      
7. Lencol de Capoeira  
8. A Volta Do Capoeira 
9. Saia Rendada        
10. Maculele