Search - Various Artists :: Dance Bahia

Axé 101: Introduction to the Music of Bahia

D. Kohler | Leucadia, CA USA | 03/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Dance Bahia" was the CD that introduced me to the music of Bahia (a Brazilian state located in the north east of Brazil) many years ago and I fell in love with the music and culture and have travel to this musical area twice. This CD presents a broad spectrum of music from Bahia known as axé music (pronounce ashay). The music from this state is unique compared to the rest of Brazil. "Dance Bahia" has some of the best stars of axé. Axé is a collage of musical genres, such as samba, lambada, frevo, forró (these previous 4 genres are Brazilian), reggae, merengue, soca, konpa, rock, hip hop and other musical forms in the African Diaspora, mixed together. Not every axé song contains all of these elements together, however, I have divided axé into four sub-groups based upon the mix; bloco-afro, pop-axé, alternative axé and pagode-axé.



Bloco-afros (afro groups) are Bahia's version of Rio's samba schools. These groups, consist of large number of drummers, that originally performed during carnival but now perform regularly and produce CDs. The sounds of bloco-afros are different than the sambas of Rio. It is more African in sounding and tends to have a more festive atmosphere to it. One of the more popular rhythms to come out of bloco-afros is the samba-reggae (which could be its own genre). Timbalada is one of the best bloco-afros and "Dance Bahia" contains two of their songs, `Beija Flor' (humming bird) and `Toneladas De Desejo' (much to be desired). This version of `Beija Flor' is a `dub' dance hall sounding closer to reggae than bloco-afro, but fun to listen to nonetheless. The original version can be found on their CD title Timbalada. Other groups that fall into the afro-bloco sub-group of axe are Are Ketu, Reflexu, Tony Mola Bragada and Oludum. The latter group being the most famous internationally has performed with Paul Simon on Obvious Child, Rhythm of the SaintRhythm of the Saint.



Pop-axé consist of pagode, (type of samba), lamabada, and a mix of pop music (Brazilian and American). This type of axé is the most popular and brought the genre to the rest of Brazil and other parts of the world. The groups or singers on "Dance Bahia" that fall into this sub-group are Banda Eva, Marcia Freire, Cheiro de Amor and Netinho. Banda Eva's song `Tic, Tic, Tac' is a cheerful song about Bahian rhythms that gets the floor moving. This song has also been covered by many other Brazilian and Latin groups. There is even a popular Spanish version. `Me Abraça' (hold me) is a beautiful love song by Ivete sangalo. No need to understand Portuguese to feel the love and emotion coming from Ivete's voice. Marcia Freire has a strong but beautiful voice in `Vermelho' (red). Cheiro de Amor style of music epitomizes the heart of axé music and `Pega No Balanco' (get in to the swing) is a fantastic example. A rhythmic upbeat melody with a lot of percussion and pop sounds. Netinho is one of most popular male singers of axé. `Preciso de Você' (I need you) is very rhythmic with all the percussions. Other groups, singers that fall in this sub-group are Banda Beija, As Meninas, Ivete Sangalo (solo), Margareth Menezes, and Daniela Mercury (The most famous axé singer who helped made axé a house hold word in Brazil).



The next sub-group is alternative-axé. This sub-group is very close to pop-axé but tends to contain more rock, alternative rock or alternative music than pop. There are no samples of this sub group on "Dance Bahia" but to name some bands that fall in this category are Chiclete Com Banana, Asa de ??guia, Jherenmmais Não Bate Corner, and Pimenta N'Ativa.



Pagode is a type of samba that has been scale down from the big samba bands in carnival. Popular through out Brazil pagode is easily recognized by the cavaquinho (A Brazilian version of the ukulele). However, the pagode from Bahia has been mixed with Caribbean and other pop music giving it a very festive and sometimes sensual feel. Companhia Do Pagode and Gera Samba are two pagode groups presented on this CD. One of the most popular songs by Companhia Do Pagode is `Na Boquinha da Garrafa' (on the mouth of the bottle or the bottle dance) a sexual dance in which a female dances over a bottle that is placed on the ground. The music is lively and the singing has a ring to it that is reminiscent to the singing style of old calypso singers such as the mighty sparrow or lord kitchner. This song has also been done in a Spanish version. Gera Samba produced a hit song with `É O Tchan.' This edition of `É O Tchan' on "Dance Bahia" is a dance version with a strong base furnishing it with a reggae dance hall feel. Other pagode groups from Bahia are Raça Pura, Terra Samba, Harmonia do Samba, Gang do Samba, Bom Balanço, Beto Jamaica, and É O Tchan (formed by two members of Gera Samba that broke away forming their own group and naming themselves after Gera Samba's hit song)



Music from Bahia is rhythmical and people who enjoy other Caribbean music such as salsa, merengue, reggae, soca, calypso, konpa and or zouk would most likely enjoy the axé music. I give "Dance Bahia" a five star rating. The music surrounds the body with pulsating rhythms of euphoric emotions. Every second of every song will have you dancing and falling in love with Bahia. The CD gives a wide spectrum of axé with the top names and big hits unlike other compilation CDs that tend to contain artist that have never been heard of or compiled with b-side flop song. But not this CD! Dance Bahia is a rare gem and great for introducing the music of Bahia known as axé. Other complimentary CDs on axé are "Axé Bahia 98, 99, 00, 01, or 02," "Sambahia 98," "Go Back to Bahia," "Lambada Brazil," and "Carla Parez verão 2000." A great DVD is "Axé Bahia.""

Oh the Memories...

bordersj2 | Boston | 02/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I remember when I got this, maybe 9 years ago! My how time flies... Tic, Tic, Tac was extremely popular and played in many clubs... in Boston it was played religiously in international clubs as were Timbalada's trakcs... all before the over-played "Samba De Janeiro" would come out a few years later.



This is loads of samba and Axe with the heavy hitters of the time. Banda Eva, E O Tchan (Amazaing what the girls could do with those bottles!!!) Cheiro De Amor, adn Marcia Freire headline. It starts out with Tic Tic Tac before Vermelho (red), spirited Marcia Freire before she got even bigger in Brasil and then E O Tchan given the more popular remix by Hitmakers. All in all, this is a pretty positive cd that's full of energy and will put you in a good mood... hopefully... or just remind you of what you were doing, seeing, etc. when you first heard the songs on this. Like... exactly how far did you spit out your drink when you saw a girl dance to "Tchan... Tchan... Tchan-Tchan-Tchan-Tchan-Tchan" for the first time.



I still like this cd. If you are from Bahia, Rio or Mato Grosso, it doesn't matter, you will remember many of the songs. Funny but where I live, sometimes we go to a local bar where my friend's brother plays and sings (from Brasil) and you cna expect to see dancing and music similar to "Na Boquinha Da Garrafa". But if you are not from Brasil, of course some songs will STILL be familiar and like the first reviewer states, it's actually an excellent introduction. So many of the artists have gone on to do different things... from the stunningly beautiful Ivete Sangolo having a terrific solo career to the girls of Cheiro De Amor posing for Playboy Brasil..."

Buy it for the first track

csgiv@hotmail.com | Pomona, CA | 03/11/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The song "Tic Tic Tac" must have been a monster hit a couple of years ago. It was still popular at parties and in dance clubs when I was traveling in South America last December. I was glad to find a cover of it on this album."