Paulo Bellinati, guitar & Mônica Salmaso, voice : “AFROSAMBAS” de Baden Powell & Vinícius de Moraes

In 1962, Vinícius de Moraes met Baden Powell for the first time, forming one of the greatest partnerships in Brazilian popular music. Out of their fruitful collaboration, emerged a masterpiece, a sort of opera based on the Afro-Brazilian mythology, composed of eleven interconnecting songs which Vinícius entitled himself as Afro-Sambas.

The Afro-Sambas mixed the popular bossa nova style with African musical elements into an operatic story-line in which rituals of the Orixás (Gods) are told. Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes explored the Afro-Brazilian roots of Bahia, incorporating musical idea drawn from the regional Capoeira(popular dance-like martial art form of Brazil) and the Candomblé (the main Afro-Brazilian religion).

Produced and arranged by Paulo Bellinati, the challenge of this project was to reveal the musical language of Baden and Vinícius in a contemporary style, without losing the character of the original work. Going beyond the traditional accompaniment, the guitar parts are so intricate, they could stand alone as complete compositions, making this works true duets-pure voice and guitar.

Several of the songs that comprise the Afro-Sambas became classics of the Brazilian pop scene.

Only recently, however, where all eleven Afro-Sambas recorded together for the very first time.

Mônica Salmaso and Paulo Bellinati, collaborate on this recording-a finalist for Brazil’s 1997 “Prêmio Sharp” award, the Brazilian equivalent to the Grammy Award.

The complete Afro-Sambas by Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes are: Tristeza e Solidão, Canto de Ossanha, Canto de Xangô, Bocochê, Canto de Iemanjá, Canto de Pedra-Preta, Lamento de Exú, Tempo de Amor, Labareda, Consolação, and the famous Berimbau.