The Brazilian Choro Music Festival in 2023 celebrated ten years of the roda do choro jam session at the Couth Buzzard in the Greenwood neighborhood, and brought in full houses for its three-day run. We return this January for another three-day event, this time exploring a range of approaches to choro, a style that combines groove elements from Africa with classical melodic expression and harmony that is deeply Brazilian. Long-time choro performers from Seattle, Port Townsend and Olympia fill the line-up Friday and Saturday. Then on Sunday, the featured appearance of Brazilian guitarist Marco de Carvalho introduces his newest album Coreografia.

These concerts at the Couth Buzzard are family friendly and free. All tips go to the musicians and are greatly appreciated.

Full Festival schedule below.

January 17, Friday: war fish and Chorando na Chuva
https://www.facebook.com/events/3981257162199944

7 pm
war fish is the new choro project of flutist Kristine Rominski and 7-string guitarist Stuart Zobel. Named for the Brazilian composer and musical folklorist César Guerra-Peixe, war fish is inspired to seek out sounds and rhythms that expand how they perform choro and its musical kindred. Kristine has a long time interest in South American music styles and performs classical music with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. Stuart was a founding member of the well-received choro ensemble Choroloco, and started the roda de choro at the Couth Buzzard in 2013.

8 pm
Chorando na Chuva (Crying in the Rain) has performed around the Pacific Northwest since 2010, beginning under the name Choro Tocando. They host the monthly roda de choro, now in its 12th year, and also frequently perform or offer workshops and rodas at BrasilFest and Northwest Folklife festivals. Although Brazilian choro music is the heart of Chorando na Chuva’s polished performance, the group also mixes it up with baião, samba, and maxixe to kick up a toe-tapping beat. Add more than a bit of song, and it’s a great time. Band regulars KTzinha (vocals and flute), Paul Korsmo (vocals and 7-string guitar, and Wayne Organ (percussion) are joined by guest Wayne Clark (violin, bandolim and percussion).

January 18, Saturday: Combo Choro and Choro Tomorrow
https://www.facebook.com/events/1352139015773643

7 pm
Combo Choro had performed frequently around the Port Townsend area since 2010 at venues such as the Wooden Boat Show, Finnriver Cidery, and Seattle's BrasilFest. Tonight’s Quartet version has lead players Al Bergstein (mandolin) and Julian Catford (guitar and cavaquinho), along with their percussionist Teresa Catford, bring in guest Jonathan Green for the bass line. Starting from a reverence for choro’s great composers Jacob do Bandolim and Pixinguinha, band members pool their talents, experience and passion for choro for an engaging performance.

8 pm
Choro Tomorrow, Olympia’s flame keepers of choro, blends the talents of seven seasoned musicians: Lisa Seifert (clarinet, bass clarinet), Sonja Wiedenhaupt (flute and vocals), Brendon Keenan (guitar), Lorree Gardener (bass), Betsy Perkins (percussion and vocals), and David Moseley (percussion). Their instrumental mix emanates lively and bright at times, deep and soulful at others.
Band leader Lisa Seifert has traveled to Brazil several times to study and play choro. Over the years, the group has evolved, adding standards of the repertoire and also new compositions by friends and mentors. One constant they really enjoy is playing this music in community, learning from each other.

January 19, Sunday: Marco de Carvalho Coreografia Concert
https://www.facebook.com/events/618377794015231

7-8:30 pm
Marco de Carvalho, a stunning Brazilian guitarist from Rio de Janeiro, brings a special treat to the festival - his Coreogafia Concert based on his latest album which features the work of samba canção composer Cartola. Marco has toured with bandolim player Paulo Sá, first in Rio and then on the East Coast of the United States. A performance opportunity on the West Coast led Marco to establish his residence in Seattle. He continues to expand his repertoire, performing an extensive catalog of original compositions and songs from Rio, while also recording, leading workshops, and teaching guitar. Neal Chin on ukulele and Abby Blackwell on bass join him for the fabulous event.