Sunday, November 30, 2008

BRAZILIAN HEART! Indian/Brazilian Heart!



BRAZILIAN HEART
December 2008
Since 1998

“(…) The spirit of this city (Mumbai) has always been amazing - this is not the first time there has been a crisis here - there has been terrorists attacks as well as communal riots, but each time the city has always bounced back.”

This is a quote from my dear friend who resides in Mumbai regarding the attacks that happened last week. On his first reply he said he and his wife were shocked and feeling violated. It made me think about the New York residents, and our reactions to 9/11. Here we go, one more chance to think about reactions. Hopefully we can create a different paradigm. Yes, we can.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/26/king.chopra.mumbai/
(Deepak Chopra’s point of view about it. VERY interesting!)

MOVIE
Have you seen “Slumdog Millionaire”? It’s the best movie I’ve seen this year. The modern vibe reminded me of the Brazilian movie City of God. I felt like adopting the little boy Jamal.
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/

Indian guitarist Sanjay Divecha used to play with Sambaguru. Here’s his first video (Full Circle CD)
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=tZmUOFoCsr

THE POWER OF GIVING
The Garment Worker Center is gearing up for our annual fair trade sale - Shop with a Heart! Come join us to buy fair trade gifts and to celebrate their accomplishments this year. Starts on December 4th. Garment Worker Center 1250 S. Los Angeles St #213 Los Angeles, CA 90015 United States (213) 748-5866
GIFT WITH MEANING
http://www.strongheartfellowship.org/akawelle/Designer.htm

VOICE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS
Sing Like a Brazilian Bird!
Email for more info.

HISTORY
Over 200,000,000 people around the world claim Portuguese as their native language. This means that far more people speak Portuguese than speak French, German, Italian or Japanese. Portuguese is the seventh most spoken language in the world today, behind English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Hindi, and Russian.
http://www.geocities.com/email_theguy/newportweb/portuguese_intro.htm

LAUGH OUT LOUD!
http://www.otoons.de/downloads/bear3.mpg

Feliz Natal (Merry Christmas)
Feliz Ano Novo (Happy New Year)
http://www.otoons.de/joke&game/installing_love.htm

Peace, Light and Namastê,
Katia : )
P.S.: http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1892182081

Monday, November 3, 2008

BRAZILIAN HEART! Breath Deeply and Vote!


BRAZILIAN HEART
November 2008
Since 1998

I believe the most important political event I had attended in my life was in my hometown, Rio de Janeiro in 1984. The movement was called DIRETAS JA (DIRECT VOTE NOW) and started in the Northeast of Brasil. In 1983 Teotonio Vilela, a senator from Alagoas, started talking about bringing democracy back after 20 years of dictatorship. Soon after that a dream amendment was written by Dante de Oliveira asking for direct vote and that ignited an incredible amount of Brazilians to go to the streets in search for change.
I don’t remember if I painted my face like my friends, but I definitely screamed, danced and sang from the bottom of my heart in the streets of downtown Rio. One million people squeezed each other from Cinelandia Square to Rio Branco Avenue to Candelaria Church. We’re trying to push president Figueiredo and the Congress to pass the Dante de Oliveira’s Amendment that would bring back Presidential elections. The Brazilian Congress got 298 positive votes against 65, and 112 Congressmen simply didn’t show up to vote at all fearing retaliations.
In 1989 I finally voted for president for the first time in my life.

Please, vote.
(Go Obama!!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh1Z0ciU3s8

VOICE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS
Sing Like a Brazilian Bird!
"I like to emphasize music's connection to fundamental human activities involving movement, language, and emotion. For me music was always intuitively a fundamental language of the human brain and therefore deeply connected to who we are as human beings, and spiritual beings. Relaxation, Breathing, Rhythm and Expression Awareness are basic steps to beautiful singing." Email for more info.

DIOGO NOGUEIRA
November 15 at 9pm @ Santa Monica Bar & Grille
www.braziliannites.com

THE LATIN PROJECT (Hosted by Debi Nova)
November 20 at 10pm at Plush @ The Key Club
(West Hollywood)
www.myspace.com/thelatinproject

SENSE OF HUMOR
“Patient: Doctor, I have a pain in my eye whenever I drink tea.
Doctor: Take the spoon out of the mug before you drink.”

“The sense of humor is part, an essential part, of the wholeness of man. It keeps him healthy, it keeps him young, it keeps him fresh. And for centuries the sad people have dominated religion. They have expelled laughter -- from the churches, from the mosques, from the temples. The day laughter enters back into the holy places they will be really holy, because they will be whole. Laughter is the only quality that distinguishes man from other animals. Only man can see the ridiculous, the absurd.” (Osho)

“May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.”

Katia : )

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

BRAZILIAN HEART! Breath Deeply and... Sing!


BRAZILIAN HEART
October 2008
Since 1998

“Your life is yours and yours alone . . . do not allow the storms of this time to erode your glory. Believe in yourself to the extent that no external word, deed or thought can minimize your potency.” (Guru Singh)

PERFORMANCE
Thursday, October 16 at 8pm
Katia Moraes & Brazilian ElectrOrganics!
At PLUSH @ THE KEY CLUB
9039 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, 90069
http://www.keyclub.com/sub_info.php
Hosted by Debi Nova (obrigada, Debi)
8pm Katia Moraes
9pm Debi Nova
10pm Andrea Ferraz

LA Phil Presents Milton Nascimento & The Jobim Trio
On Wed OCT 29 at 8pm
Walt Disney Concert Hall

Saturday, November 1st, 2008
Oscar Castro-Neves
Celebrating the First 50 Years of Bossa Nova!
@ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater International Series
Houston, TX
http://www.worthamcenter.org
With Don Grusin, Charlie Bisharat, Gary Meek, Hussain Jiffry, Alex Acuña and Katia Moraes)

PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE AMAZON
My friend Jorge Vismara just came back from a trip to the Amazon region. Check his beautiful photographs!
http://jorgevismara.net/navegaramazonia/

MOVIE
WALT DISNEY & EL GRUPO opened in Brasil last week. The movie is about the “US Government suggested trip” that Walt Disney made to Latin America in 1941. For more info: www.waltandelgrupo.com

VOICE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS
I like to emphasize music's connection to fundamental human activities involving movement, language, and emotion. For me music was always intuitively a fundamental language of the human brain and therefore deeply connected to who we are as human beings, and spiritual beings. Relaxation, Breathing, Rhythm and Expression Awareness are basic steps to beautiful singing.
More info by email katia@katiamoraes.com

Peace, Light and Namastê,
Katia
P.S.: Go Obama!

www.katiamoraes.com
www.myspace.com/katiamoraes
http://katiabrazil.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/sambaguru (songs of new CD)

“ … And Moraes' singing, as always, was a virtual definition of the passion that is an implicit part of Brazilian music."
Don Heckman / LOS ANGELES TIMES

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

BRAZILIAN HEART / SEPTEMBER 2008



Here’s an interview with my Brazilian friend and Grammy Award Winner MOOGIE CANAZIO.
Moogie is a talent sound enginner and producer who have worked with Sergio Mendes, Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, Maria Bethania, Ivan Lins, and many more. We talked about growing up in Copacabana, discovering music, politics, family, food, and spiritual matters.

Enjoy!
(And leave a comment!)
http://www.caesarphoto.com/interview.html

SAMBAGURU IS DONE MASTERING THE NEW CD!
For a preview, visit www.myspace.com/sambaguru

TRIBUTE TO DORIVAL CAYMMI (1914-2008)
Brazilian composer/singer Dorival Caymmi passed away two weeks ago. Carmem Miranda made him famous with the recording “O que é que a Bahiana tem.” The following link shows Dorival singing on a Brazilian movie from 1950’s. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATRYXkvBkKM

BRAZILIAN FOOD (MOQUECA) http://www.moquecarestaurant.com/About_Us.html

Have you ever heard about the Leningrad Cowboys? Follow the link, scroll down and watch the video… political incorrectness at its top. http://www.leningradcowboys.fi/main.site?action=news/news&ids=0

VIVER BRASIL (FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC) Saturday, September 14 at 1pm at the Latin American Art Museum in Long Beach
http://www.festivalofsacredmusic.org/0914MOLAA.html
www.viverbrasil.com

From where I am
To who I am,
Katia : )
P.S.: GO OBAMA/BIDEN!!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

BRAZILIAN HEART + Free Concerts


BRAZILIAN HEART
August 2008
Since 1998

This July I met a geophysicist in Anderson’s Conn Valley (Napa Valley) who said Al Gore’s Global Warming idea was not based in accurate facts. I tried to argue with him, but everything I got back was this sweet comment: “You’re a very emotional person (me? Hahahaha) and you need to research the facts.” OK. Here is something I found revolutionary and it is based in facts. See if you agree with me. Check it out and pinch yourself. This can be the solution for the oil crisis! (I feel like everyone has a solution for it these days. What’s yours?)
http://zeropollutionmotors.us/?page_id=46

PERFORMANCES
Friday, Aug. 1st at 7pm
Sambaguru featuring Katia Moraes
@ LEVITT PAVILION (MacCarthur Park, Los Angeles, CA)
http://www.levittpavilionlosangeles.org/en/calendar.html
FREE

Saturday, Aug. 2nd at 11am
Katia Moraes & Pure Samba
@ GETTY CENTER (West Los Angeles, CA)
http://www.carsla.net
Price: FREE

Thursday, Aug. 7th at 8pm
Katia Moraes & ElectrOrganics
Brazilian Alternative Music Night featuring Carla Hassett, Grecco Buratto, D. Booker and more)
@ TANGIER
www.tangierrestaurant.net
www.myspace.com/brazilianalternativemusicnight

Friday, Aug. 8th at 8:30pm & 10:30pm
Sambaguru featuring Katia Moraes
@ LA VE LEE (Studio City, CA)
Reservations: (818) 980-8158
www.laveleejazzclub.com

Saturday, Aug. 9th from 5pm to 7pm
Katia Moraes & Pure Samba
@ LACMA (Los Angeles, CA)
FREE
http://www.lacma.org/programs/LatinSounds.aspx

Thursday, Aug. 14th at 10pm
Katia Moraes & Pure Samba
@ ZANZIBAR (Afro Funke Night)
Santa Monica, CA
www.zanzibarlive.com

BRAZILIAN MUSIC IN THE U.S. (PUBLIC RADIO INTERNATIONAL)
Interviews with Sergio Mendes, Katia Moraes, Luciana Souza, Jorge Alabe and more
http://www.afropop.org/radio/radio_program/ID/713/The%20Brazilian%20Diaspora%20in%20the%20United%20States

COMPARING TWO VERSIONS OF A BRAZILIAN SONG
Brazilian guitarists Yamandu and Armandinho playing Apanhei-te Cavaquinho by Ernesto Nazareth composed in 1915
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P08ve0XsK3s
WALT DISNEY VERSION of Apanhei-te Cavaquinho by Ernesto Nazareth
http://www.almacarioca.com.br/arte193.htm

NATURA (Brazilian Beauty Line)
http://www.naturabrasil.fr/default_GVS.aspx?CurrentStoreId=2&CurrentLanguageId=2
THE BAHIA HOMELESS HOUSING PROJECT (PHDB) Obrigada, Erica!
phdb-br.org

AROUND LOS ANGELES
Flutist Rebecca Kleinman at La Ve Lee on Aug. 6th

FOR YOU
Enjoy my favorite childhood spot in Brasil (UBU)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxkXz_Zb4N4&feature=related
“I begin to see an object when I cease to understand it.”
(David Henry Thoreau)

Peace and Light,
Katia : )

Sunday, July 6, 2008

BRAZILIAN HEART/New Project


BRAZILIAN HEART
July 2008
Since 1998

When I got my laptop I started using a program called Garage Band. It took me at least 2 years to have the courage to show my compositions live. Your chameleon friend is back with a new project!
KA MORAES
Brazilian Organic & Electronic Sounds
Featuring Jack Majdecki on guitars and Leo Costa on percussion/electronics
I’d love to know what you think. Join me at one of the following shows on July 10, 11 and 17. More info below or at www.myspace.com/katiamoraes

SHOWS
Saturday, July 5th @ Ford Amphitheater at 8:30pm (Kids show at 10am)
With VIVER BRASIL Dance Company
www.viverbrasil.com

Monday, July 7th at noon
Live appearance @ Internet Radio
www.killradio.org

Thursday, July 10 (and July 17) at 8:30pm
@ D’Cache (Toluca Lake) NO COVER CHARGE
KA MORAES Brazilian Organic & Electronic Sounds
www.dcacherestaurant.com/

Friday, July 11 at 8:30pm
@ La Ve Lee (Studio City)
Reservations (818) 980-8158
KA MORAES Brazilian Organic & Electronic Sounds

Sat, July 19th @ The Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts
With SAMBAGURU (Special guest on bass Rene Camacho)
San Rafael, CA
http://www.marinjcc.org
www.myspace.com/sambaguru

BRAZILIAN MUSICIANS LIVING IN THE U.S. by Jason Stanyek
http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/music/Stanyek.html
Jason interviewed me for his book about Brazilian musicians living in the U.S. The interview will be broadcasted this weekend on Afropop (NPR) and will feature one of Sambaguru’s new tunes.
It's not broadcast on any stations in LA but you can find a stream here:
http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/program.pl?programid=65
Info here: http://www.afropop.org/radio/recent.php

ONÇA PINTADA (Brazilian Jaguar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15uMANab0xA&feature=related

REMEMBERING BRAZILIAN CONCERTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5TvfFq81xw&feature=related

AROUND LOS ANGELES
Thu, July 3rd at 8pm
Brazilian Alternative Music Nite hosted by Carla Hassett
@ Tangier
http://myspace.com/brazilianalternativemusicnight
http://tangierrestaurant.net

Sunday, July 13th Grupo Revelação
@ Ford Amphitheater
www.braziliannites.com

MUSICAL MAGIC (Water Organ in Zadar, Croatia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nISG7iBk-A

BRAZILIAN WRITER
I’m reading “Clara dos Anjos” by Lima Barreto (1881/1922). “He used a very sarcastic, but disguised, style of writing, what prevented him from being persecuted by politicians or military authorities, his favorite ‘victims’.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima_Barreto

MOVIE
NOEL, O POETA DA VILA (Noel Rosa, The Poet of Vila)
Noel is one of my favorite composers from Brasil!
Screening on Wednesday, July 2nd at 7:30pm
@ James Bridges Theatre (UCLA)
http://www.international.ucla.edu/lac/events/index.asp?action=NextMonth&EventDate=6/1/2008&CenterID=0

BLINDNESS was directed by Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meireles (City of God, Constant Gardener) based on the novel by Nobel prize winner Jose Saramago. It’ll be released in the U.S. this fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMdnhK5ZuiI

FOR YOU
"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."
By Paulo Coelho (Brazilian Writer, b.1947)

“Someone born in Brazil is an American. Anyone born on the western hemisphere is an American. American is not a nationality.”
By Karen Allen (American Actress, b.1951)

Peace and Light,
Katia : )

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Back From Brasil!




BRAZILIAN HEART
June 2008
Since 1998

I’m back from Brasil!
The warm Atlantic water and a crazy traffic. The delicious fruit juices and a credit card mania. The lively conversations with my friends and people sleeping in the streets of Copacabana. Ah…the coconut water… and some family issues… In the middle of all, the statue of poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade sits on a beach bench and poses for a picture with tourists from all over the world (check the video of the statue below).
My country is a country of contradictions and with so much creativity. Everybody has an opinion about everything. I found lots of interesting cultural cable TV programs, watched Brazilian movies, a play, a free concert on the beach celebrating rock star Cazuza, and went to historic Lapa in downtown Rio where there is an incredible amount of nightclubs with great live music. As soon as I got back to the US my skin broke… I miss the humidity!

NEW MUSIC!
Thu, June 5 at 8pm @ Tangier (2138 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz)
www.tangierrestaurant.net/
(Brazilian Alternative Music Night organized by Carla Hassett)
I’ll be singing my new compositions accompanied by Jack Majdecki on guitar and Leo Costa on perc/drums/eletronics.
www.myspace.com/brazilianalternativemusicnight

More dates at www.katiamoraes.com
Or www.myspace.com/katiamoraes

VISITING RIO (I recommend)
Carioca da Gema Bar in Lapa:
http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/brazil/southeast/rio-de-janeiro/lapa/lapa-restaurants/carioca-da-gema/
Fort of Copacabana (one of the best views of Rio):
http://www.fortedecopacabana.com/modules/fotos/public-album.php?id=11

BRAZILIAN WRITER
Machado de Assis was born in my hometown Rio de Janeiro in June 1839, and is one of the most important writers of my country and of Latin America. I read few of his books in school. I’m reading his first novel written in 1872 titled Resurrection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machado_de_Assis

MOVIE
ESTOMAGO (Stomach/2007) directed by Brazilian filmmaker Marcos Jorge. It is a Brazilian/Italian production and the best movie I watched in Rio last month. Link below for the preview.
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1417342234&channel=1214718128

DANCE
Viver Brasil Dance Company is presenting Tuesday Water Series at Dance Arts Academy, 731 S. La Brea Ave, LA 90036. The Gift on the Water package includes 5 classes for $58. The Single class is $15.
Get ready to swim to shore for Viver Brasil's 6th season at the Ford Amphitheatre on July 5, 2008.
More info www.viverbrasil.com

EVENTS AROUND TOWN
Sat, June 7
Roberto Carlos @ Gibson Amphitheater
www.robertocarlosusa.com

Fri, June 13 at 8:30pm
Djavan @ Ford Amphitheater
www.braziliannites.com

Monday, June 30 at 8pm
Gilberto Gil @ 4th & B (San Diego)
www.braziliannites.com

ARRANCO DE VARSOVIA ( A band from Rio)
http://www.arrancodevarsovia.com.br/
www.myspace.com/arrancodevarsovia

VIDEO (Carlos Drummond de Andrade’s statue in Copacabana)
In February 2008 someone stole the glasses of the statue. The City installed a new one, but a trickster Carioca stole it again.
http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Noticias/0,,GIM830145-7823-ESTATUA+DE+CARLOS+DRUMMOND+DE+ANDRADE+RECEBE+NOVOS+OCULOS,00.html

FOR YOU
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito"
African Proverb

Peace and Love,
Katia : )

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Time to celebrate!

Come and join us for an afternoon of Brazilian dance,
music, voice experience, live interview with Brazilian
embassador Thereza Quintella, slide show with
historical images of Brazil, capoeira, a little snack,
coconut water by ONE, and much more. The schedule and
name of the artists are on my blog.

Two days after that I’ll be leaving for Brasil!
Ahhhhh… I REALLY need to re energize!

Sunday, April 27 from 2pm to 7pm
@ Brasil Brasil Cultural Center
4325 Sepulveda Blvd. (at Culver Blvd.)
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 397-3667
$15

INSPIRATIONS! (Believe it or not, this was one of my
first musical inspirations! Show me yours!)
www.almacarioca.com.br/arte506.htm

DANCE
By French coreographer Maurice Bejart
I thought the music was Brazilian, but a French friend
told me it is from Republic of Chad!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY5_q64ZLJc

BOOK
Memories, Dreams, Reflections by C. G. Jung from 1961
“I feel very strongly that I am under the influence of
things or questions which were left incomplete and
unanswered by my parents and grandparents and more
distant ancestors.”

MOVIE
Vinícius (documentary/ 2005)
The black and white scenes of Rio at the opening of
the movie took my breath away.
http://www.hackwriters.com/Vinicius.htm

Performances around Los Angeles

Brazilian pianist Marcos Ariel (Antonio Santanna on
bass and Leo Costa on drums) plus Guests
Tuesday, April 8 at 8pm and 9:30pm
@ Jazz Bakery (Culver City)
www.jazzbakery.org

Viver Brasil Dance Company
Saturday, April 19 at 11:30am
@ The Fowler Museum (UCLA)
www.viverbrasil.com

BRAZILIAN SAYING
Mais vale um pássaro na mão que dois voando.
(One bird in the hand is worth two flying)

Peace and Light,
Katia : )

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

10 Years Celebration












SUNDAY, APRIL 27 FROM 2PM TO 7PM
@ BRASIL BRASIL CULTURAL CENTER
4325 SEPULVEDA BLVD. (at Culver Blvd.)
CULVER CITY, CA 90230
Admission: $15
FOR MORE INFO (310) 908-0835
www.katiamoraes.com
www.myspace.com/katiamoraes

This event is an extension of the positive vibe Brazilian Heart Newsletter brings to people every month. Come and spend an afternoon of cultural activities where we can learn, meet new people, see old and virtual friends, and share the joy we have for
Brazil!

Set design creation by Brad Austin
Fruit snacks provided by Ana Laidley
Coconut Water provided by ONE – One Natural Experience


SCHEDULE

2pm to 3pm
Brazilian Heart Dance and Voice Experience
www.katiamoraes.com

3:10pm to 3:30pm
Viver Brasil Dance Company Demonstration
www.viverbrasil.com

3:40pm to 4:10pm
Interview with Brazilian Embassador Thereza Quintella
www.brazilian-consulate.org

4:20pm to 4:30pm
Ana Laidey with a Historical Samba Dance Demonstration
http://www.sambanmotion.com/

4:35pm to 5pm
“Discovery of Brasil” by speaker Susan
DiGiulio with slide show by Jorge Vismara
www.pelourinho.com


5:10pm to 5:25pm
Amém Santo & Capoeira Batuque Demonstration
www.capoeirabatuque.org

5:35pm to 6pm
Music with Carla Hassett and Friends
www.carlahassett.com

6:10pm to 7pm
The Mystery of Brazilian Music with Katia Moraes & Trio
Plus a slide show by Jorge Vismara
www.pelourinho.com

MAP TO BBCC

X Truth


Music Video
Composition by Katia Moraes
Directed by Caesar Lima

Planeta Brasil


Katia Moraes' Interview at Planeta Brasil