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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...

 

It 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..."

 

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.

 

  • Sophia Deboick
    I RECOMMEND

CURATION

  • from this node by: Matrix

This is the Universe of

  • Name: Sophia Deboick
  • City/Place: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
  • Country: United Kingdom

Life & Work

  • Bio: I’m a freelance writer specialising in the intersection of popular religion and popular culture. I’ve written on music, sainthood, fame and popular icons, cults, pilgrimage and fandom, and a variety of other topics for publications including the Guardian, The New European, History Today and The Quietus, as well as speaking and writing in academic contexts.

    My PhD research looked at the cult of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux – ‘the greatest saint of modern times’ – and its commercial promotion by her remarkable sister, Céline.

Contact Information

  • Email: [email protected]

Media | Markets

  • ▶ Twitter: sophiadeboick
  • ▶ Instagram: sophialdeboick
  • ▶ Website: http://sophiadeboick.com
  • ▶ Articles: http://www.theguardian.com/profile/sophia-deboick

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 Sophia Deboick:

  • 0 England
  • 0 Historian
  • 0 Writer
  • Greg Kot Journalist
  • Babau Santana Pandeiro
  • Natan Drubi Brasil, Brazil
  • Papa Mali Swamp
  • Rez Abbasi Jazz
  • Gord Sheard Ethnomusicologist
  • Gretchen Parlato Composer
  • Harold López-Nussa Havana
  • Hank Roberts Composer
  • César Orozco Cuba
  • Peter Serkin Contemporary Classical Music
  • Fábio Zanon Royal Academy of Music Visiting Professor
  • Melvin Gibbs Record Producer
  • Gui Duvignau Brazil
  • Rachael Price Singer-Songwriter
  • Fábio Zanon Author
  • Ivo Perelman Brazilian Jazz
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Black American Culture & History
  • Gal Costa Bahia
  • Karim Ziad Jazz
  • Ethan Iverson Music Critic
  • Maladitso Band Malawi
  • Congahead African Music
  • William Parker Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Arthur Verocai Arranger
  • Gel Barbosa Sanfona
  • Romero Lubambo Brazil
  • Fabiana Cozza Singer
  • Joe Lovano Flute
  • Lula Galvão Guitar
  • Norah Jones Singer-Songwriter
  • Bisa Butler Black American Culture & History
  • Susana Baca Folklorist
  • Roque Ferreira Salvador
  • Tito Jackson Singer-Songwriter
  • Justin Brown Jazz
  • Ronell Johnson Funk
  • Burkard Polster YouTuber
  • Luis Delgado Qualtrough San Francisco
  • Jan Ramsey Cajun Music
  • James Poyser Television Scores
  • Elodie Bouny Classical Guitar
  • Cécile McLorin Salvant New York City
  • Archie Shepp Singer
  • Joel Best Character Artist
  • John Zorn Film Scores
  • Bob Telson Piano
  • Maladitso Band Africa
  • Gretchen Parlato New York City
  • Amaro Freitas Maracatu
  • Questlove Author
  • Joey Alexander New York City
  • Mestrinho Sergipe
  • Louis Michot Singer-Songwriter
  • Mauro Refosco Compositor de Shows da Moda, Fashion Show Music
  • Eliane Elias Classical Music
  • Patty Kiss Compositora, Songwriter
  • Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Celtic
  • MARO Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Roots Manuva Hip-Hop
  • Chris Dingman Vibraphone
  • Dónal Lunny Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Regina Carter Jazz
  • Paulo Aragão Composer
  • Jennifer Koh Violin
  • Avner Dorman Gettysburg College Faculty
  • Mateus Aleluia Filho Flugelhorn
  • Swami Jr. São Paulo
  • Julian Lage Blues
  • Katuka Africanidades Loja de Roupa, Clothing Store
  • Fapy Lafertin Manouche
  • Mono/Poly Electronic Music
  • Myron Walden Flute
  • Yosvany Terry Cuba
  • Merima Ključo Balkan Music
  • Marcos Sacramento Samba
  • Will Holshouser Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music Faculty
  • Nate Smith Jazz
  • Leo Nocentelli New Orleans
  • Samba de Nicinha Chula
  • Lianne La Havas Singer-Songwriter
  • André Mehmari Piano
  • Irmandade da Boa Morte Irmandade
  • Lenine Record Producer
  • Luciano Salvador Bahia Piano
  • Paulão 7 Cordas Cavaquinho
  • Ed O'Brien Brazil
  • Sean Jones Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute Faculty
  • Nomcebo Zikode House Music
  • Negra Jhô Bahia
  • Joe Newberry Banjo
  • Luis Perdomo Piano
  • Fábio Peron São Paulo
  • Edivaldo Bolagi Cineasta Documentarista, Documentary Filmmaker
  • Ken Dossar Bahia
  • Arto Tunçboyacıyan Percussion
  • Rosângela Silvestre Salvador
  • Yazhi Guo 郭雅志 Microtonal
  • Brenda Navarrete Singer
  • Maia Sharp Singer-Songwriter
  • Christian McBride Composer
  • Mou Brasil Compositor, Composer
  • J. Velloso Songwriter
  • Armen Donelian Multi-Cultural
  • Mark Turner Composer
  • Ronald Bruner Jr. Singer
  • Etienne Charles Steel Drums
  • James Grime Mathematics
  • Jonathan Scales Composer
  • Richie Stearns Americana
  • Asanda Mqiki South Africa
  • Biréli Lagrène Composer
  • Bill T. Jones New York City
  • Tom Oren Composer
  • Stephen Guerra Brazilian Classical Guitar
  • Mary Norris Writer
  • Bodek Janke Contemporary Classical Music
  • Asa Branca Salvador
  • Lizz Wright Jazz
  • Hugues Mbenda Congolese Cuisine
  • Jen Shyu Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Cara Stacey Radio Presenter
  • Casey Driessen Composer
  • Katuka Africanidades AFROBIZ Salvador
  • Eliane Elias Brazil
  • Mokhtar Samba Morocco
  • Papa Mali Louisiana
  • Jakub Knera Writer
  • Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Singer
  • César Orozco New York City
  • Márcio Valverde Santo Amaro
  • Juliana Ribeiro MPB
  • Rosa Passos Samba
  • Luciano Calazans MPB
  • Chris Boardman Arranger
  • Keshav Batish North Indian Classical Music
  • G. Thomas Allen Singer-Songwriter
  • Keola Beamer Hawaii
  • Papa Grows Funk New Orleans
  • Lorna Simpson Filmmaker
  • Etan Thomas Writer
  • Joshue Ashby Afro-Caribbean Music
  • Maria Drell Bahia
  • Rudy Royston Photographer
  • 小野リサ Lisa Ono MPB
  • Priscila Castro Carimbó
  • Fábio Luna Forró
  • Scott Devine United Kingdom
  • Adriano Giffoni MPB
  • Greg Ruby Jazz
  • Alicia Keys Singer-Songwriter
  • Ben Wolfe Bass
  • James Brandon Lewis Composer
  • André Mehmari MPB
  • Michel Camilo Music Director
  • Adam Neely Composer
  • Margareth Menezes Axé
  • Aloísio Menezes Salvador
  • Biréli Lagrène Guitar
  • Aindrias de Staic Ireland
  • Ron Carter Educator
  • Antonio García Arranger
  • Jim Hoke Composer
  • Fantastic Negrito Oakland, California
  • David Braid England
  • Woz Kaly African Music
  • Andra Day Actor
  • Barney McAll Jazz
  • Christopher Seneca Journalist
  • Adanya Dunn Toronto
  • David Byrne Painter
  • Adriano Giffoni Rio de Janeiro
  • Casey Benjamin Funk
  • Tom Green Guitar
  • Larry Achiampong Composer
  • Omar Hakim Composer
  • Henrique Cazes Choro
  • Massimo Biolcati App Developer
  • Greg Kot Writer
  • Keyon Harrold Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Ben Hazleton Indian Classical Music
  • Swami Jr. Forró
  • Niwel Tsumbu Congo
  • Eliane Elias São Paulo
  • Robertinho Silva Drums
  • Kimmo Pohjonen Accordion
  • John Patitucci Bass
  • Léo Rugero Accordion
  • Esperanza Spalding Jazz
  • Yacouba Sissoko Kora
  • Etan Thomas Poet
  • Paulo Paulelli Brazilian Jazz
  • Scotty Apex Composer
  • Karim Ziad Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Tambay Obenson Journalist
  • Kiya Tabassian كيا طبسيان Film Scores
  • Cuong Vu Jazz
  • Meddy Gerville Réunion
  • Hilary Hahn Classical Music
  • Frank Beacham Playwright
  • Wynton Marsalis Trumpet
  • The Brain Cloud Western Swing
  • Savoy Family Cajun Band Cajun Music
  • Tommy Orange Native American Literature
  • Martin Koenig Liner Notes
  • Courtney Pine Bass Clarinet
  • Jason Moran New England Conservatory of Music Faculty
  • Malin Fezehai Africa
  • Gabi Guedes Percussion
  • Trilok Gurtu Indian Classical Music
  • Ken Coleman Black American Culture & History
  • Atlantic Brass Quintet Balkan Music
  • Hua Hsu Vassar College Faculty
  • Tele Novella Psych Pop
  • Reena Esmail Los Angeles
  • Dale Farmer Film Director
  • Musa Okwonga Rapper
  • Sameer Gupta Brooklyn, NY
  • Tray Chaney Rapper
  • Ênio Bernardes Bahia
  • Snigdha Poonam Delhi
  • Aubrey Johnson Montclair State University Faculty
  • Oscar Bolão Percussion
  • Dale Farmer Old-Time Music
  • Carlinhos 7 Cordas Violão de Sete
  • Filhos de Nagô Samba de Roda
  • Guga Stroeter Brazil
  • Philip Ó Ceallaigh Translator
  • David Virelles Piano
  • Dan Tyminski Bluegrass
  • John Medeski Jazz
  • Shuya Okino DJ
  • Michael Doucet Mandolin
  • William Skeen USC Thornton School of Music Faculty
  • Nicolas Krassik Choro
  • Anoushka Shankar Author
  • Tomo Fujita Jazz
  • Guinga Composer
  • Demond Melancon Black Masker
  • Roots Manuva Record Producer
  • Emicida Singer-Songwriter
  • Eduardo Kobra Muralista, Muralist
  • Chico César Brazil
  • Arismar do Espírito Santo São Paulo
  • Jahi Sundance Record Producer
  • Luis Paez-Pumar Writer
  • David Mattingly School of Visual Arts Faculty
  • Ben Okri London
  • João Parahyba Brazil
  • Echezonachukwu Nduka Musicologist
  • Darryl Hall Jazz
  • David Bragger Guitar Instruction
  • Anna Webber Flute
  • Paul Cebar R&B
  • Isaac Julien London
  • Ian Hubert VFX Artist
  • Glória Bomfim Samba de Roda
  • Kurt Andersen New York City
  • Hot Dougie's Salvador
  • Sarah Hanahan Juilliard Student
  • Béla Fleck Songwriter
  • Nicole Mitchell University of Pittsburgh Faculty
  • Elizabeth LaPrelle Singer-Songwriter
  • Angel Deradoorian Multi-Instrumentalist
  • Gary Clark Jr. Blues
  • Serginho Meriti Brazil
  • Nduduzo Makhathini Johannesburg
  • Mark Bingham Record Producer
  • Carlinhos Brown Salvador
  • Wynton Marsalis Classical Music
  • Anouar Brahem Arabic Music
  • Inon Barnatan New York City
  • Rita Batista Apresentadora de Televisão, Television Presenter
  • Lenny Kravitz Designer
  • John Harle Guildhall School of Music & Drama Faculty
  • David Greely Author
  • David Hoffman Documentary Filmmaker
  • Cláudio Badega Brasil, Brazil
  • Marcus Printup Trumpet
  • David Castillo New Orleans
  • Lula Galvão MPB
  • Tom Moon MPB
  • Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh Dublin
  • Mestrinho Brazil
  • Jamz Supernova Radio Presenter
  • Jamie Dupuis Singer
  • Ayrson Heráclito Set Designer
  • Mike Compton Country Blues
  • Askia Davis Sr. Writer
  • Leci Brandão Brazil
  • Carlos Henriquez Northwestern University Faculty
  • Nettrice R. Gaskins Cultural Critic
  • Sabine Hossenfelder Author
  • Taylor Eigsti Composer
  • Tarus Mateen Record Producer
  • Ricardo Herz Brazil
  • Paddy Groenland Dublin
  • Ana Luisa Barral Salvador
  • Scotty Barnhart Author
  • Fernando César Brazil
  • Jam no MAM Brasil, Brazil
  • Alexandre Vieira Jazz
  • Nettrice R. Gaskins Writer
  • Muri Assunção Latinx
  • Rita Batista Jornalista, Journalist
  • Gary Clark Jr. R&B
  • Matt Ulery Multi-Cultural
  • Rob Garland Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music Faculty
  • John Patrick Murphy Author
  • Fábio Luna Percussão, Percussion
  • Gary Clark Jr. Singer-Songwriter
  • Gal Costa Bahia
  • Azi Schwartz החזן עזי שוורץ New York City
  • João Camarero Composer
  • Michael League Bass
  • Justin Stanton Composer
  • Yotam Silberstein Multi-Cultural
  • Wayne Shorter Jazz
  • Léo Rugero Composer
  • Alfredo Del-Penho Samba
  • Milton Nascimento Brazil
  • Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Violin
  • Cristovão Bastos MPB
  • Lenine MPB
  • Jas Kayser Drums
  • Henry Cole New York City
  • Catherine Bent Boston
  • Billy O'Shea Novelist
  • Wolfgang Muthspiel Contemporary Classical Music
  • Trilok Gurtu Multi-Cultural
  • Parker Ighile Africa
  • Bebel Gilberto Brazil
  • Deesha Philyaw University of Pittsburgh Faculty
  • Yvette Holzwarth Contemporary Classical Music
  • Pedro Aznar Jazz
  • Donald Vega Jazz
  • Herbie Hancock Piano
  • Marcus Strickland Jazz
  • Warren Wolf Drums
  • Sérgio Mendes MPB
  • Max ZT Composer
  • Rumaan Alam Essayist
  • Irma Thomas Singer
  • Pat Metheny Guitar
  • Martin Koenig Ethnomusicologist
  • Donna Leon Venice
  • VJ Gabiru Artista Multimídia, Multimedia Artist
  • Bill Hinchberger Paris
  • Fernando Brandão Jazz
  • Nguyên Lê Record Producer

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

 

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