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  • From Brazil with love →
  • @ Ground Zero
  • El Aleph
  • If You Can't Stand the Heat
  • Harlem to Bahia to the Planet
  • Why a "Matrix"?

From Brazil with love →

@ Ground Zero

 

Have you, dear friend, ever noticed how different places scattered across the face of the globe seem almost to exist in different universes? As if they were permeated throughout with something akin to 19th century luminiferous aether, unique, determined by that place's history? It's like a trick of the mind's light (I suppose), but standing on beach or escarpment in Salvador and looking out across the Baía de Todos os Santos to the great Recôncavo, and mindful of what happened there, one must be led to the inevitable conclusion that one is in a place unique to history, and to the present*.

 

 

"Chegou a hora dessa gente bronzeada mostrar seu valor / The time has come for these bronzed people to show their value..."Música: Assis Valente of Santo Amaro, Bahia. Vídeo: Betão Aguiar.

 

*More enslaved human beings entered the Bay of All Saints and the Recôncavo than any other final port-of-call throughout all of mankind's history.

 

These people and their descendants created some of the most uplifting music ever made, the foundation of Brazil's national art. We wanted their music to be accessible to the world (it's not even accessible here in Brazil) so we created a platform by which everybody's creativity is mutually accessible, including theirs.

 

El Aleph

 

The network was built in an obscure record shop (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar found it) in a shimmering Brazilian port city...

 

...inspired in (the kabbalah-inspired fiction of) Borges' (short story) El Aleph, that in the pillar in Cairo's Mosque of Amr, where the universe in its entirety throughout all time is perceivable as an infinite hum from deep within the stone.

 

It "works" by virtue of the "small-world" phenomenon...the same responsible for the fact that most of us 7 billion or so beings are within 6 or fewer degrees of each other.

 

It was described (to some degree) and can be accessed via this article in British journal The Guardian (which named our radio of matrixed artists as one of ten best in the world):

 

www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/apr/17/10-best-music-radio-station-around-world

 

With David Dye for U.S. National Public Radio: www.npr.org/2013/07/16/202634814/roots-of-samba-exploring-historic-pelourinho-in-salvador-brazil

 

All is more connected than we know.

 

Per the "spirit" above, our logo is a cortador de cana, a cane-cutter. It was designed by Walter Mariano, professor of design at the Federal University of Bahia to reflect the origins of the music the shop specialized in. The Brazilian "aleph" doesn't hum... it dances and sings.

 

If You Can't Stand the Heat

 

Image above is from the base of the cross in front of the church of São Francisco do Paraguaçu in the Bahian Recôncavo

 

Sprawled across broad equatorial latitudes, stoked and steamed and sensual in the widest sense of the word, limned in cadenced song, Brazil is a conundrum wrapped in a smile inside an irony...

 

This is not a European nation. It is not a North American nation. It is not an East Asian nation. It straddles — jungle and desert and dense urban centers — both the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. Brazil absorbed over ten times the number of enslaved Africans taken to the United States of America, and is a repository of African deities (and their music) now largely forgotten in their lands of origin. It was a refuge (of sorts) for Sephardim fleeing an Inquisition which followed them across the Atlantic (that unofficial symbol of Brazil's national music — the pandeiro — was almost certainly brought to Brazil by these people). Across the parched savannas of the interior of Brazil's culturally fecund nordeste/northeast, where wizard Hermeto Pascoal was born in Lagoa da Canoa (Lagoon of the Canoe) and raised in Olho d'Águia (Eye of the Eagle), much of Brazil's aboriginal population was absorbed into a caboclo/quilombola culture punctuated by the Star of David. Three cultures — from three continents — running for their lives, their confluence forming an unprecedented fourth. Pandeirista on the roof. Nowhere else but here.

 

Oligarchy, plutocracy, dictatorships and massive corruption — elements of these are still strongly entrenched — have defined, delineated, and limited Brazil.

 

But strictured & bound as it has been and is, Brazil has buzz...not the shallow buzz of a fashionable moment...but the deep buzz of a population which in spite of — or perhaps because of — the tough slog through life they've been allotted by humanity's dregs-in-fine-linen, have chosen not to simply pull themselves along but to lift their voices in song and their bodies in dance...to eat well and converse well and much and to wring the joy out of the day-to-day happenings and small pleasures of life which are so often set aside or ignored in the European, North American, and East Asian nations.

 

For this Brazil has a genius perhaps unparalleled in all other countries and societies, a genius which thrives alongside peeling paint and holes in the streets and roads, under bad organization by the powers-that-be, both civil and governmental, under a constant rain of societal indignities...

 

Which is all to say that if you don't know Brazil and you're expecting any semblance of order, progress and light, you will certainly find the light! And the buzz of a people who for generations have responded to privation at many different levels by somehow rising above it all.

 

"Onde tem miséria, tem música!"* - Raymundo Sodré

 

And it's not just music. And it's not just Brazil.

 

Welcome to the kitchen!

 

* "Where there is misery, there is music!" Remarked during a conversation arcing from Bahia to Haiti and Cuba to New Orleans and the south side of Chicago and Harlem to the villages of Ireland and the gypsy camps and shtetls of Eastern Europe...

 

Harlem to Bahia to the Planet



Why a "Matrix"?

 

I was explaining the ideas behind this nascent network to (João) Teoria (trumpet player above) over cervejas at Xique Xique (a bar named for a town in Bahia) in the Salvador neighborhood of Barris...

 

Like this (but in Portuguese): "It's kind of like Facebook if it didn't spy on you, but reversed... more about who you don't know than who you do know. And who doesn't know you but would be glad if they did. It's kind of like old Myspace Music but instead of having "friends" it has a list on your page of people you recommend. Not just musicians but writers, painters, filmmakers, dancers, chefs... anybody in the creative economy. It has a list of people who recommend you, or through whom you are recommended. It deals with arts which aren't recommendable by algorithm but need human intelligence behind recommendations. And the people who are recommended can recommend, creating a network of recommendations wherein by the small world phenomenon most people in the creative economy are within several steps of everybody else in the creative economy, no matter where they are in the world. Like a chessboard which could have millions of squares, but you can get from any given square to any other in no more than six steps..."

 

And João said (in Portuguese): "A matrix where you can move from one artist to another..."

 

A matrix! That was it! The ORIGINAL meaning of matrix is "source", from "mater", Latin for "mother". So the term would help congeal the concept in the minds of people the network was being introduced to, while giving us a motto: "We're a real mother for ya!" (you know, Johnny "Guitar" Watson?)

 

The original idea was that musicians would recommend musicians, the network thus formed being "small world" (commonly called "six degrees of separation"). In the real world, the number of degrees of separation in such a network can vary, but while a given network might have billions of nodes (people, for example), the average number of steps between any two nodes will usually be minuscule.

 

Thus somebody unaware of the magnificent music of Bahia, Brazil will be able to conceivably move from almost any musician in this matrix to Bahia in just a few steps...

 

By the same logic that might move one from Bahia or anywhere else to any musician anywhere.

 

And there's no reason to limit this system to musicians. To the contrary, while there are algorithms written to recommend music (which, although they are limited, can be useful), there are no algorithms capable of recommending journalism, novels & short stories, painting, dance, film, chefery...

 

...a vast chasm that this network — or as Teoria put it, "matrix" — is capable of filling.

 

  • James Martins
    I RECOMMEND

CURATION

  • from this node by: Criador acima/Creator above

This is the Universe of

  • Name: James Martins
  • City/Place: Salvador, Bahia
  • Country: Brazil

Life & Work

  • Bio: James Martins is a poet, journalist, cultural critic, and radio presenter for Rádio Metrópole in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.

Media | Markets

  • ▶ Instagram: jamesmartins_extraoficial

Clips (more may be added)

  • 0:06:12
    James Martins comenta 470 anos de Salvador
    By James Martins
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YOU RECOMMEND

Imagine the world's creative economy at your fingertips. Imagine 10 doors side-by-side. Beyond each, 10 more, each opening to a "creative" somewhere around the planet. After passing through 8 such doorways you will have followed 1 pathway out of 100 million possible (2 sets of doorways yield 10 x 10 = 100 pathways). This is a simplified version of the metamathematics that makes it possible to reach everybody in the global creative economy in just a few steps It doesn't mean that everybody will be reached by everybody. It does mean that everybody can  be reached by everybody.


Appear below by recommending James Martins:

  • 6 Bahia
  • 6 Brasil, Brazil
  • 6 Crítico Cultural, Cultural Critic
  • 6 Jornalista, Journalist
  • 6 Locutor de Rádio, Radio Presenter
  • 6 Poeta, Poet
  • 6 Salvador
  • Bodek Janke World Music
  • Gretchen Parlato Composer
  • Donald Harrison Saxophone
  • James Andrews Jazz
  • Stormzy Writer
  • Chris Acquavella Germany
  • Marcus Teixeira Guitar
  • Maciel Salú Singer
  • Damon Albarn Film Scores
  • Gilmar Gomes Brazil
  • Ruven Afanador New York City
  • Philip Cashian Contemporary Classical Music
  • Chris Thile Bluegrass
  • Giveton Gelin Trumpet
  • Giovanni Russonello Washington, D.C.
  • China Moses R&B
  • Aruán Ortiz Jazz
  • Dan Weiss Drumming Instruction
  • Ed O'Brien Singer-Songwriter
  • Nath Rodrigues Singer-Songwriter
  • Michael Cleveland Indiana
  • Damon Albarn Theater Composer
  • Tiganá Santana Trilhas Sonoras, Film Scores
  • Imanuel Marcus Berlin
  • Restaurante Axego Afro-Bahian Cuisine
  • Celso Fonseca Brazil
  • Peter Erskine Jazz
  • Dani Deahl Journalist
  • Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin Ethnomusicologist
  • Louis Michot Singer-Songwriter
  • Ari Rosenschein Seattle
  • Tyshawn Sorey Avant-Garde Jazz
  • Roosevelt Collier Blues, Gospel, Rock, Funk
  • Willie Jones III Jazz
  • Mestre Nelito Capoeira Angola
  • Jubu Smith Bass
  • Jorge Ben Singer-Songwriter
  • John Zorn Composer
  • Seckou Keita Africa
  • Kiko Souza Bahia
  • Thiago Espírito Santo Jazz Brasileiro, Brazilian Jazz
  • Ayrson Heráclito Set Designer
  • Ivan Neville Keyboards
  • Bonerama Funk
  • Martin Fondse Arranger
  • Ben Hazleton London
  • Hilton Schilder South Africa
  • Asali Solomon Writer
  • Brenda Navarrete Cuba
  • Alessandro Penezzi São Paulo
  • Matt Garrison Composer
  • Nancy Ruth Spain
  • Ben Wendel Saxophone
  • Bruce Molsky Fiddle Instruction
  • Kiko Souza Bahia
  • Bebê Kramer Jazz
  • Celsinho Silva Choro
  • Arismar do Espírito Santo Brazil
  • Casa PretaHub Cachoeira Espaço de Coworking, Coworking Space
  • Marc Cary New York City
  • Toninho Horta Minas Gerais
  • Omar Sosa Afro-Cuban Jazz
  • Lenny Kravitz Songwriter
  • Roberto Mendes Guitar
  • César Orozco Violin
  • Gary Clark Jr. Austin, Texas
  • Henrique Araújo Choro
  • Alexandre Vieira Bahia
  • Karsh Kale कर्ष काळे Electronic Music
  • Donna Leon Venice
  • Asanda Mqiki Afro-Soul
  • Daphne A. Brooks Liner Notes
  • Justin Stanton Brooklyn, NY
  • Alfredo Rodriguez Cuba
  • Eddie Palmieri Ropeadope
  • Daniil Trifonov Russia
  • Arismar do Espírito Santo Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Brandon Wilner DJ
  • Mika Mutti Record Producer
  • Mohamed Diab Screenwriter
  • Alex Rawls New Orleans
  • Gavin Marwick Edinburgh
  • Harvey G. Cohen King's College London Faculty
  • Manolo Badrena Jazz
  • Eli Teplin Piano
  • Yilian Cañizares Violin
  • Mingo Araújo Rio de Janeiro
  • Toninho Nascimento Singer-Songwriter
  • Luizinho do Jêje Candomblé
  • Itiberê Zwarg Composer
  • Billy O'Shea Denmark
  • Mikki Kunttu Lighting Designer
  • Bongo Joe Records Record Shop
  • Varijashree Venugopal Brazilian Music
  • Calypso Rose Calypso
  • Alana Gabriela Educadora, Educator
  • André Becker Bahia
  • Sérgio Pererê Singer
  • David Sánchez Ropeadope
  • Logan Richardson Kansas City, Missouri
  • Alexandre Leão MPB
  • Marília Sodré Chula
  • Jon Batiste R&B
  • Jupiter Bokondji Singer-Songwriter
  • Elizabeth LaPrelle Old-Time Music
  • Asali Solomon Writer
  • Caroline Keane Educator
  • Henry Cole New York City
  • Plamen Karadonev Jazz
  • Giba Conceição Brazil
  • Sam Yahel Hammond B-3
  • Arturo O'Farrill Piano
  • David Virelles Composer
  • Tommaso Zillio Edmonton
  • Ari Hoenig Jazz
  • Mauro Senise Composer
  • RAM Mizik Rasin
  • Beeple VR / AR
  • Kaveh Rastegar Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Etienne Charles Michigan State University Faculty
  • Lívia Mattos Accordion
  • Aneesa Strings Composer
  • Walter Blanding Composer
  • Sabine Hossenfelder Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies
  • Mariene de Castro Brazil
  • Nora Fischer Contemporary Classical Music
  • Giovanni Russonello Jazz
  • Tonynho dos Santos Música Afro-Baiana, Afro-Bahian Music
  • Garvia Bailey Writer
  • Colm Tóibín Poet
  • Oswaldo Amorim Brasília
  • Michael Formanek Jazz
  • Andrew Dickson Journalist
  • Tero Saarinen Helsinki
  • Dale Farmer Fiddle
  • Jerry Douglas Guitar
  • Samuca do Acordeon Forró
  • Ron Mader Communications Catalyst
  • Miles Okazaki Jazz
  • Logan Richardson Classical Music
  • Moreno Veloso Cello
  • Lucian Ban Composer
  • Joan Chamorro Jazz
  • Jon Batiste Classical Music
  • Paulo Costa Lima Escritor, Writer
  • Dona Dalva Samba
  • JD Allen Saxophone
  • Yilian Cañizares Singer-Songwriter
  • Mart'nália Rio de Janeiro
  • Dadá do Trombone Jazz Afro-Baiano, Afro-Bahian Jazz
  • Julian Lage Americana
  • Errollyn Wallen Contemporary Classical Music
  • Paulo Costa Lima Compositor, Composer
  • Samuca do Acordeon Choro
  • Dónal Lunny Bouzouki
  • John Francis Flynn Ireland
  • Jon Batiste Piano
  • Kiko Souza Samba
  • MARO Singer-Songwriter
  • Michael Doucet Accordion
  • Tyshawn Sorey Avant-Garde Jazz
  • Fidelis Melo Brasil, Brazil
  • Leci Brandão Rio de Janeiro
  • Myron Walden Composer
  • Spider Stacy Singer-Songwriter
  • Liron Meyuhas Composer
  • Casa da Mãe Samba
  • Jill Scott Actor
  • Dave Smith Jazz
  • Bertram Educator
  • Walter Pinheiro MPB
  • Curly Strings Americana
  • Greg Osby Jazz
  • Cristiano Nogueira Travel Marketer
  • Brady Haran YouTuber
  • Cláudio Badega Brasil, Brazil
  • Martyn Drum and Bass
  • Brett Orrison Record Label Owner
  • Robert Glasper Jazz
  • Nikki Yeoh Jazz
  • Munir Hossn Salvador
  • Ruven Afanador Portrait Photographer
  • Marco Pereira Classical Guitar
  • Larissa Fulana de Tal Bahia
  • Andrés Beeuwsaert Composer
  • Germán Garmendia Comedian
  • Marcus Miller Record Producer
  • John Santos Cape Verde
  • Demond Melancon Big Chief
  • Raynald Colom Jazz
  • Andrés Prado Lima
  • Branford Marsalis Classical Music
  • Dale Barlow Flute
  • Marcus J. Moore Editor
  • Hugo Linns Pernambuco
  • Tonynho dos Santos Bahia
  • Mário Pam Percussion Classes & Workshops
  • Gary Clark Jr. R&B
  • Sammy Britt Mississippi
  • Oscar Bolão Rio de Janeiro
  • Catherine Russell Jazz
  • Ricardo Bacelar Brasil, Brazil
  • Makaya McCraven Composer
  • Pasquale Grasso Guitar
  • Joey Baron Composer
  • Gabi Guedes Bahia
  • Samuca do Acordeon Tango
  • Elie Afif Composer
  • Cedric Watson Singer-Songwriter
  • Alexa Tarantino Jazz
  • Urânia Munzanzu Poeta, Poet
  • Marcelinho Oliveira Brazil
  • Bukassa Kabengele Brazil
  • Ken Coleman Black American Culture & History
  • Nate Smith Music Producer
  • Jorge Pita Bahia
  • James Elkington Singer-Songwriter
  • Aurino de Jesus Brazil
  • Bai Kamara Jr. Multi-Cultural
  • César Orozco New York City
  • Miles Mosley Los Angeles
  • Perumal Murugan Short Stories
  • Fabiana Cozza Brazil
  • David Hepworth London
  • Tomo Fujita Berklee College of Music Faculty
  • OVANA Cunene
  • The Umoza Music Project London
  • Glória Bomfim Rio de Janeiro
  • Alicia Svigals Jewish Music
  • Jericho Brown Poet
  • Luciana Souza São Paulo
  • María Grand R&B
  • Joe Chambers Drums
  • Anthony Hamilton Los Angeles
  • Justin Kauflin Composer
  • Zebrinha Cineasta Documentarista, Documentary Filmmaker
  • Louis Marks Podcaster
  • Paulo Costa Lima Música Clássica Contemporânea, Contemporary Classical Music
  • Meddy Gerville Singer
  • Johnny Vidacovich New Orleans
  • Matt Glaser Violin
  • Lula Moreira Maracatu
  • Jan Ramsey Culture Journalist
  • Leigh Alexander Video Game Story Designer
  • Karim Ziad Algeria
  • Sam Yahel Piano Instruction
  • David Virelles Piano
  • Ronaldo do Bandolim Composer
  • Jason Moran Composer
  • Marc Cary Keyboards
  • Huey Morgan BBC
  • Monk Boudreaux Percussion
  • Giorgi Mikadze გიორგი მიქაძე Contemporary Classical Music
  • Jonathon Grasse Composer
  • James Martins Crítico Cultural, Cultural Critic
  • Pedrito Martinez Cuba
  • Moreno Veloso Singer-Songwriter
  • Jovino Santos Neto Seattle
  • Roberto Fonseca Havana
  • Logan Richardson Flute
  • Edgar Meyer Jazz
  • Saileog Ní Cheannabháin Fiddle
  • Pierre Onassis Bahia
  • Simone Sou São Paulo
  • Dave Douglas Jazz
  • Jen Shyu Multi-Cultural
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates Writer
  • Badi Assad Guitar
  • Matt Dievendorf Guitar
  • Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass
  • Milford Graves Drums
  • Flying Lotus Record Label Owner
  • Maia Sharp Country
  • Adriana L. Dutra Director
  • Lucian Ban Piano
  • Ron McCurdy Writer
  • John Patitucci Bass
  • Steve Lehman Jazz
  • Colson Whitehead Literary Critic
  • J. Velloso MPB
  • Little Simz London
  • Benoit Fader Keita Afrohouse
  • Don Byron Film Scores
  • Melvin Gibbs Funk, HIp-Hop, Alternative
  • Michel Camilo Music Director
  • Larissa Luz Singer-Songwriter
  • Joe Newberry Banjo Instruction
  • Yuja Wang New York City
  • Meshell Ndegeocello Singer-Songwriter
  • Kotringo Japan
  • Christian McBride Composer
  • Jonathon Grasse Writer
  • Greg Ruby Manouche
  • Africania Candomblé
  • Anders Osborne R&B
  • Linda Sikhakhane Ropeadope
  • Soweto Kinch Rapper
  • Yayá Massemba Brasil, Brazil
  • Richard Bona Singer
  • Mary Stallings Jazz
  • Kermit Ruffins Composer
  • Fernando César Choro
  • André Vasconcellos Brasil, Brazil
  • Tatiana Eva-Marie Brooklyn, NY
  • Lazzo Matumbi Bahia
  • Elif Şafak Novelist
  • Hilton Schilder Composer
  • Mark Stryker Jazz
  • Warren Wolf Composer
  • Anthony Hervey Singer
  • Bejun Mehta New York City
  • Alan Brain Peru
  • James Gadson Jazz
  • Gino Banks Drumming Instruction
  • Paulinho Fagundes Rio Grande do Sul
  • Danilo Pérez Piano
  • Paulo Martelli Brazilian Classical Guitar
  • Yelaine Rodriguez African Diaspora Culture
  • Giba Gonçalves Salvador
  • Ry Cooder Americana
  • Jorge Aragão Singer-Songwriter
  • McCoy Mrubata South Africa
  • Mateus Aleluia Filho Música Pan-Africana, Pan-African Music
  • Roy Ayers Jazz, Funk, R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop
  • Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro Brazil
  • Dave Eggers Writer
  • Bongo Joe Records Record Label
  • H.L. Thompson New York City
  • Gino Sorcinelli Journalist
  • Robert Glasper Songwriter
  • Alan Brain Film, Television Director
  • Osvaldo Golijov Contemporary Classical Music
  • Richard Galliano Accordion
  • Keshav Batish Percussion
  • Del McCoury Guitar
  • Julia Alvarez Latin American Literature
  • Timothy Duffy Folklorist
  • Karsh Kale कर्ष काळे Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Alicia Keys Piano
  • Warren Wolf Baltimore, Maryland
  • João Rabello Samba
  • The Weeknd Record Producer
  • Roberta Sá MPB
  • Renata Flores Quechua
  • Willy Schwarz Theater Composer
  • Luíz Paixão Forró
  • Ilê Aiyê Brazil
  • Mokhtar Samba Paris
  • Mauro Refosco Brasil, Brazil
  • Raymundo Sodré Bahia

 'mātriks / "source" / from "mater", Latin for "mother"
We're a real mother for ya!

 

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