Jazz thrives amidst Carnival in Rio
Rio de Janeiro - The jazz festival blends traditional songs from the Brazilian Sertão with New Orleans beats 
A spot on Rio's Lavradio street has gathered more and more aficionados every year. For the fourth consecutive year, the Lavradio Jazz Fest offered free jazz concerts to provide revelers with more musical options amidst the city's Carnival festivities.
American musician Mark Lambert was in charge of the first gig this Saturday (Feb. 6) with the Rádio Swing Quintet, and seized the opportunity to blend traditional songs from the Brazilian Sertão with New Orleans beats. The Dolls and Dames New Orleans Band, another quintet, paid a tribute to New Orleans female singers from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
“There are more and more people looking for jazz every year. Playing in Rio is one of the best things I do, because it's a chance to bring the history of where I come from and the history from here together. Jazz and Carnival have a lot in common. It's a time to celebrate; it's sheer joy,” Labert said.
“I like diversifying. It's important to have options, and this diversity we see in Rio is just great,” said journalist Teresa Almeida, who has attended the concerts for three years. “I run away from the crowd, it feels much better here. It's a lot of new things we don't usually see in our everyday life. I like jazz and their lineup caught my attention,” noted electrician Márcia Cristina Nascimento.
Among the music groups performing at the Lavradio Jazz Fest are Manouche Carioca, playing gypsy jazz, and the All That Jazz Band, Rio's oldest hot jazz group. Also on the list are São Jorge Brass Band, the Monte Alegre Hot Hazz Band, the Roda Romani quintet, the forerunners of jazz manouche in Rio, and the Orleans Original Jazz Band, which brings back to life songs by icons like Louis Armstrong.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Jazz thrives amidst Carnival in Rio
