Frevo Fever

This past Thursday [February 9th] was Dia do Frevo or Frevo Day, coined as such since February 9, 1907 was the very first time that the word frevo was written in an official capacity [in the Recifense newspaper Jornal Pequeno]. Frevo is a unique Brazilian music and dance form which originated in Recife as a result of the mixture of capoeira dancers/practioners following Recife's military/marching bands. As space was tight and the marching bands, well, marched, the capoeira moves were slowly altered and frevo was born. The word frevo itself, comes from a slang mutation of the word ferver -- or to boil -- a word frequently used to describe the atmosphere on Recife's streets during Carnaval when the marching bands and capoeira-come-frevo dancers would take over the streets. Other Brazilian, Latin, and even Russian dances have also had their influence on frevo.

In celebration of Dia do Frevo, one of the country's greats, Antônio Nóbrega launched his newest cd Nove de Frevereiro, loosely translated as the Ninth of Frevruary. Although I missed the Thursday night street party launch in Old Recife, which I quite regret having now seen last night's show, I did manage to make it to the first of three concerts last night. It was amazing! First of all, Nóbrega is amazing. He sings, dances, plays the instruments, and is a good story teller. The concert consisted of Nóbrega, a fifteen or so piece band [saxes, trumpets and trombones, strings, and percussion] and a group of about eight dancers who came on and off the stage. I also learned that frevo is not just about the umbrellas, but that different types of frevo exist, including one which is much more waltze-like and less frenetic. I'll try to post an audio clip in the next few days with a frevo tune or two.

Aside from the excellent music, the concert evovled in true Brazilian fashion.

What started out looking like this:

Ended up looking like this:

Yes, those are many many dozens, hundreds even, of people up on the stage dancing away! But wait, it's not over! When the show ended, Nóbrega, the band, and the dancers jumped into the aisles and led everyone into the lobby where the party continued some more. The picture is a little dark, but needed to be posted!

In all, a great way to spend the evening. Fortunately, a friend of mine who teaches frevo has promised me at least one pre-Carnaval lesson, so that I too, will be all set!