Salvador Bahia Brazil Matrix

The Matrix Online Network is a platform conceived & built in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil and upon which people & entities across the creative economic universe can 1) present in variegated detail what it is they do, 2) recommend others, and 3) be recommended by others. Integrated by recommendations and governed by the metamathematical magic of the small world phenomenon (popularly called "6 degrees of separation"), matrix pages tend to discoverable proximity to all other matrix pages, no matter how widely separated in location, society, and degree of fame. From Quincy Jones to celestial samba in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to you, all is closer than we imagine.

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  • (Bahia)
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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.

 

  • Ruven Afanador
    I RECOMMEND

CURATION

  • from this node by: Matrix

This is the Universe of

  • Name: Ruven Afanador
  • City/Place: New York City
  • Country: United States
  • Hometown: Bucaramanga, Colombia

Life & Work

  • Bio: Ruven Afanador is a Colombian-born fashion and portrait photographer based out of New York City.

    His photographs have appeared in Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone and the New York Times magazine, among other publications.

Contact Information

  • Management/Booking: NEW YORK AGENT
    Trish South Management
    Contact / Trish South
    [email protected]

    PARIS AGENT
    Tristan Godefroy
    Contact / Tristan Godefroy
    [email protected]

Media | Markets

  • ▶ Twitter: ruvenafanador
  • ▶ Instagram: ruvenafanador
  • ▶ Website: http://www.ruvenafanador.com

Clips (more may be added)

  • Ruven Afanador, the Colombian photographer who portrays the celebrities
    By Ruven Afanador
    245 views
  • BLANCA LI by Ruven Afanador for The Cut NYmag
    By Ruven Afanador
    211 views
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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 Ruven Afanador:

  • 1 Colombia
  • 1 Fashion Photographer
  • 1 New York City
  • 1 Portrait Photographer

Nodes below are randomly generated. Reload for a different stack.

  • Roots Manuva Hip-Hop
  • João Parahyba Brazil
  • Dani Deahl Journalist
  • Luiz Santos Drums
  • Peter Dasent Piano
  • Julie Fowlis Scotland
  • Robert Glasper Songwriter
  • Ana Moura Lisbon
  • J. Cunha Figurinista, Costume Designer
  • Bisa Butler Pan-African Culture
  • Pat Metheny Guitar
  • Zé Katimba GRES Imperatriz Leopoldinense
  • François Zalacain Record Label Owner
  • Walmir Lima Samba
  • Amaro Freitas Pernambuco
  • Muhsinah R&B
  • ANNA Techno
  • Fábio Zanon Brazil
  • Mohini Dey Indian Fusion
  • Eric Alexander Composer
  • Adriene Cruz Tapestry Crochet
  • Armen Donelian Piano
  • Fidelis Melo Bahia
  • Christian Sands Jazz
  • Doug Adair Country
  • Sergio Krakowski Choro
  • Dhafer Youssef ظافر يوسف Singer
  • Zachary Richard Guitar
  • Mateus Asato Los Angeles
  • Issa Malluf Doumbek
  • Omar Hakim Drums
  • Rissi Palmer Country
  • Fidelis Melo Assessor de Comunicação, Public Relations
  • João Callado Brazilian Jazz
  • David Chesky Record Producer
  • Laura Cole Singer-Songwriter
  • Dermot Hussey Pan-Africana
  • Peter Mulvey Americana
  • H.L. Thompson Festival Producer
  • Adriano Giffoni Bass Instruction, Master Classes
  • Dan Auerbach Singer-Songwriter
  • Casa PretaHub Cachoeira Brasil, Brazil
  • Mario Caldato Jr. Bass
  • Stuart Duncan Fiddle
  • Omar Sosa Marimba
  • Teodor Currentzis Classical Music
  • Munir Hossn Multi-Cultural
  • María Grand R&B
  • Walter Pinheiro Flute
  • Yazhi Guo 郭雅志 Chinese Traditional Music
  • Arismar do Espírito Santo São Paulo
  • Román Díaz Cuba
  • Madhuri Vijay India
  • Anoushka Shankar Film Scores
  • Monarco Singer-Songwriter
  • Welson Tremura Ethnomusicologist
  • Rumaan Alam Writer
  • Ashley Pezzotti New York City
  • Zigaboo Modeliste Drums
  • Booker T. Jones Soul
  • Eric Alexander Composer
  • Jazzmeia Horn New York City
  • Dave Weckl Jazz Fusion
  • James Martins Bahia
  • Tatiana Eva-Marie Gypsy Jazz
  • Maria Drell Brasil, Brazil
  • Maia Sharp Singer-Songwriter
  • Philip Glass Piano
  • Eivør Pálsdóttir Faroe Islands
  • Oleg Fateev Composer
  • Jon Batiste Jazz
  • Armen Donelian Author
  • Luis Paez-Pumar Writer
  • Reuben Rogers Jazz
  • Nelson Ayres Piano
  • Jurandir Santana Viola Caipira
  • Tomoko Omura Jazz
  • Jack Talty Record Label Owner
  • China Moses R&B
  • James Strauss Brazil
  • Gregory Hutchinson Soul
  • Neymar Dias Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Ari Hoenig Drum Instruction
  • Abel Selaocoe Classical Music
  • Jane Ira Bloom New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music Faculty
  • Jurandir Santana Guitar
  • Rob Garland Guitar
  • Robby Krieger Painter
  • Roosevelt Collier Blues, Gospel, Rock, Funk
  • Michael Formanek Peabody Conservatory of Music Faculty
  • Joatan Nascimento Salvador
  • Georgia Anne Muldrow Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Little Simz Hip-Hop
  • Samba de Nicinha Samba
  • Gino Banks India
  • Fred P Berlin
  • Victor Wooten Author
  • Andy Kershaw DJ
  • Daniil Trifonov Piano
  • Lula Galvão Bossa Nova
  • Munir Hossn Bahia
  • Angelique Kidjo Multi-Cultural
  • Colm Tóibín Poet
  • Tyler Hayes Tech Writer
  • Tyler Gordon San Jose, California
  • Howard Levy Latin Jazz
  • Caroline Shaw Contemporary Classical Music
  • John Edward Hasse Record Producer
  • Catherine Bent Berklee College of Music Faculty
  • Del McCoury Old-Time Music
  • LaTasha Lee Texas
  • Edgar Meyer Bluegrass
  • Jaques Morelenbaum Cello
  • Magary Lord Semba
  • Terri Hinte Jazz Publicist
  • Michael Cuscuna Record Producer
  • Robertinho Silva Jazz
  • Jeffrey Boakye Journalist
  • Ethan Iverson Avant-Garde Jazz
  • Etienne Charles Caribbean Music
  • Nabihah Iqbal Music Producer
  • Berkun Oya Actor
  • Jan Ramsey Creole Music
  • Forrest Hylton Writer
  • Frank London Klezmer
  • Nettrice R. Gaskins Ford Global Fellow
  • Harold López-Nussa Havana
  • Hugo Rivas Argentina
  • Celsinho Silva Samba
  • Sergio Krakowski Pandeiro Instruction
  • Dan Tepfer Composer
  • Yoron Israel R&B
  • Molly Tuttle Bluegrass
  • Cláudio Jorge Singer-Songwriter
  • Thiago Amud Brazil
  • Andrew Huang YouTuber
  • Alphonso Johnson CalArts Music Faculty
  • Stanton Moore Drums
  • Egberto Gismonti Piano
  • Bobby Vega San Francisco, California
  • Marcel Camargo Jazz
  • Mário Pam Bloco Afro
  • Russell Malone Jazz
  • Tank and the Bangas Hip-Hop
  • Keyon Harrold New York City
  • Stormzy Grime
  • Eric Coleman Los Angeles
  • Jeremy Danneman New York City
  • Jaleel Shaw Composer
  • Mestre Nelito Capoeira Angola
  • Steve Earle Actor
  • Bombino Singer-Songwriter
  • Errollyn Wallen Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  • Cássio Nobre Chula
  • Esperanza Spalding Composer
  • Mary Halvorson Avant-Garde Jazz
  • Edivaldo Bolagi Produtor Musical, Music Producer
  • Alegre Corrêa Brazilian Jazz
  • Muri Assunção LGBTQ
  • Bruce Williams Saxophone
  • Giorgi Mikadze გიორგი მიქაძე Composer
  • Eric Bogle Singer-Songwriter
  • David Sánchez Pan-Africana
  • Tommaso Zillio Guitar Instruction
  • Mokhtar Samba Author
  • Jeff 'Tain' Watts Composer
  • Paulinho do Reco Songwriter
  • David Bruce Multi-Cultural
  • Sérgio Pererê Singer
  • Greg Osby Jazz
  • Anthony Hamilton Singer-Songwriter
  • Sameer Gupta Tabla
  • Bruce Molsky Old-Time Music
  • Hélio Delmiro Samba
  • Adriana L. Dutra Rio de Janeiro
  • Steve Cropper Recording Studio Owner
  • Arto Lindsay Record Producer
  • Dan Weiss New York City
  • Ryan Keberle Melodica
  • Ranky Tanky South Carolina
  • Alana Gabriela Educadora, Educator
  • Clint Smith Black American Culture & History
  • Lucian Ban Transylvania
  • Dónal Lunny Songwriter
  • Tambay Obenson Los Angeles
  • Martin Fondse Vibrandeon
  • Jakub Józef Orliński Opera
  • Carla Visi Singer
  • Alexandre Gismonti Guitar
  • Mário Pam Percussion Classes & Workshops
  • Michael Olatuja New York City
  • Alex Mesquita Federal University of Bahia Faculty
  • Gavin Marwick Edinburgh
  • Monarco Cavaquinho
  • André Vasconcellos Produtor Musical, Music Producer
  • Peter Dasent Composer
  • Doug Adair Americana
  • Isaias Rabelo Bahia
  • Toninho Nascimento Rio de Janeiro
  • John Santos Composer
  • Warren Wolf Drums
  • Arto Lindsay Brazil
  • Edward P. Jones Writer
  • Ron McCurdy Jazz
  • Joshue Ashby Afro-Caribbean Music
  • RAM Port-au-Prince
  • André Becker Bahia
  • Dave Eggers Writer
  • Orlando 'Maraca' Valle Afro-Cuban Jazz
  • Miguel Zenón New York City
  • Sara Gazarek Los Angeles
  • Betsayda Machado Singer
  • Márcio Bahia Brazil
  • Sheryl Bailey New York City
  • Marcus Printup Composer
  • Laércio de Freitas Composer
  • Andrew Dickson London
  • Plínio Fernandes Classical Guitar
  • Sahba Aminikia Contemporary Classical Music
  • Manu Chao Record Producer
  • Bejun Mehta Opera
  • Saul Williams Poet
  • Jay Blakesberg San Francisco
  • A-KILL Chennai
  • JD Allen Saxophone
  • Mohamed Diab Cairo
  • John Archibald Pulitzer Prize
  • Ofer Mizrahi Singer-Songwriter
  • Joey Alexander Indonesia
  • Isaak Bransah Salvador
  • Eric Bogle Scotland
  • Arismar do Espírito Santo Bass
  • Abderrahmane Sissako Film Producer
  • Melvin Gibbs Record Producer
  • Ana Luisa Barral Bahia
  • Monk Boudreaux R&B
  • Kaia Kater Folk & Traditional
  • Lorna Simpson Photographer
  • Tito Jackson Guitar
  • Natan Drubi São Paulo
  • Ed O'Brien London
  • Julian Lage Americana
  • Diosmar Filho Salvador
  • Zara McFarlane Vocal Coach
  • Justin Kauflin New York City
  • J. Pierre Painter
  • Louis Michot Fiddle
  • Sarz Sample Creator
  • Luiz Santos Composer
  • Jane Ira Bloom Contemporary Classical Music
  • Sammy Britt Mississippi
  • Juliana Ribeiro Samba
  • Asanda Mqiki Afro-Soul
  • Eliane Elias Brazilian Jazz
  • Corey Harris Blues
  • Tony Austin Film Scores
  • Caridad De La Luz Puerto Rico
  • Olivia Trummer Composer
  • Scotty Apex Hip-Hop
  • Byron Thomas Piano
  • Lula Galvão MPB
  • Vadinho França Salvador
  • Sandro Albert Composer
  • Steve Earle Singer-Songwriter
  • Jorge Ben Rio de Janeiro
  • Shannon Sims Rio de Janeiro
  • Doug Wamble Guitar
  • Nicole Mitchell Flute
  • Jim Farber Journalist
  • Stormzy Rapper
  • Alessandro Penezzi Samba
  • Alex Conde Flamenco
  • Marcus Miller Bass
  • Nath Rodrigues Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Chris Speed Clarinet
  • Miroslav Tadić Classical, Baroque Music
  • Taylor McFerrin Record Producer
  • Warren Wolf Vibraphone
  • Brigit Katz Writer
  • Mário Pam Salvador
  • Clint Mansell Singer-Songwriter
  • Caterina Lichtenberg Soprano Lute
  • Mike Compton Nashville, Tennessee
  • Leigh Alexander Journalist
  • Tomo Fujita Guitar
  • Alessandro Penezzi São Paulo
  • Bruce Molsky Berklee College of Music Faculty
  • Django Bates Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Adonis Rose New Orleans
  • Louis Marks Ropeadope Sur
  • Berkun Oya Playwright
  • Gabriel Geszti Acordeon, Accordion
  • Kevin Hays Composer
  • John Francis Flynn Rough Trade, River Lea
  • Anat Cohen New York City
  • Maia Sharp Guitar
  • Dermot Hussey Washington, D.C.
  • Henry Cole Drums
  • Cedric Watson Louisiana Creole Music
  • Sarah Hanahan New York City
  • Ravi Coltrane Brooklyn, NY
  • Alfredo Rodriguez Jazz
  • Kurt Andersen Novelist
  • Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin Author
  • Shez Raja Tabla
  • Africania Brazil
  • Keshav Batish Percussion
  • Armandinho Macêdo Bahia
  • Adam Neely New York City
  • Cécile McLorin Salvant Composer
  • Helado Negro Sound Installations
  • Luciana Souza Brazil
  • Lizz Wright Chicago, Illinois
  • Vânia Oliveira Bahia
  • Echezonachukwu Nduka Nigeria
  • Jahi Sundance Record Producer
  • Paulo César Pinheiro Samba
  • Jamel Brinkley Writer
  • Frank Beacham New York City
  • David Virelles Cuba
  • Lucio Yanel Argentina
  • Brian Lynch Record Label Owner
  • Chris Dingman Composer
  • Peter Erskine Drums
  • Dale Barlow Flute
  • Jon Faddis Purchase College Conservatory of Music Faculty
  • Paulinho da Viola Singer-Songwriter
  • Nancy Viégas MPB
  • José James Jazz
  • Romero Lubambo Brazilian Jazz
  • Frank Beacham Writer
  • Joe Lovano Saxophone
  • Angel Bat Dawid Jazz
  • Parker Ighile Hip-Hop
  • Celso de Almeida Drums
  • Edmar Colón Berklee College of Music Faculty
  • Moacyr Luz Songwriter
  • Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin Irish Traditional Music
  • Gary Lutz Poet
  • Frank Negrão Funk
  • Kiko Souza Flauta, Flute
  • Logan Richardson Jazz
  • Eddie Palmieri Puerto Rico
  • Ênio Bernardes Produtor de Discos, Record Producer
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto Singer-Songwriter
  • Mestre Nenel Capoeira
  • Jovino Santos Neto Piano
  • Sharita Towne Portland, Oregon
  • Ron Carter Jazz
  • Roy Nathanson Film Scores

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

 

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