{"id":562757,"date":"2026-03-26T20:04:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T20:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/562757\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T20:04:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T20:04:12","slug":"brazil-before-bossa-nova-brings-the-roots-of-brazilian-music-to-winnipeg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/562757\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazil Before Bossa Nova Brings the Roots of Brazilian Music to Winnipeg"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Saturday night, March 28th at the West End Cultural Centre<\/a>, audiences will be transported across continents and decades, tracing the roots of one of the world\u2019s most beloved musical traditions. Jazz singer and pianist Amber Epp <\/a>joins Brazilian guitar virtuoso Emmanuel Bach <\/a>for\u00a0Brazil Before Bossa Nova,<\/a> a concert experience that blends performance with storytelling, offering insight into the rich musical traditions that shaped Brazil\u2019s sonic identity long before bossa nova captivated global audiences.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Beginning at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7, the evening promises more than just a concert, a journey deep into the heart of Brazil and back in time to the rich sounds of the early and mid-20th century.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Origins of a Musical Exploration\u00a0<\/p>\n

The idea for\u00a0Brazil Before Bossa Nova\u00a0was born out of a period of stillness during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Bach, the absence of live performance created an opportunity for deep reflection and study.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the idea for this concert… during COVID, I started doing more research about Brazilian music history just because musicians didn’t have gigs, right?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0explained. \u201cSo\u00a0I spent a lot of time at the house and thinking, how do I not go crazy? I\u00a0have to\u00a0find something to occupy my mind a little bit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

What began as\u00a0a personal\u00a0exploration quickly grew into something more structured during his graduate studies. \u201cDuring my Masters degree, I was taking a musicology class, which is a lot of this like social aspects connected to music, right?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said. \u201cAnd I remember my professor came to us and said, Look, you have to find a way to incorporate musicology into your performance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

That challenge became the foundation for the concert. \u201cAnd then I started to think, oh, that actually would work very nice with the bossa nova and history, because I could, you know, with all the stuff that I’ve been reading, I could put together a set that kind of helps to tell that story with music.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond the Label: Rethinking Bossa Nova\u00a0<\/p>\n

While bossa nova is often treated as a distinct genre, Bach challenges that assumption, offering a more nuanced perspective rooted in history and culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, they’re the same thing,\u201d he said when asked to compare samba and bossa nova. \u201cHere’s\u00a0the\u00a0thing. Bossa Nova is a commercial\u00a0label [something created by the record labels], in my opinion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He elaborated further: \u201cBecause what is Bossa Nova… it is mixing the jazz with the samba, right? Well, guess what? There were people doing that before Jobim<\/a> and Jo\u00e3o Gilberto<\/a>, you know? So Bossa Nova existed before the label Bossa Nova existed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

This idea lies at the heart of the concert\u2019s concept. \u201cThat’s why we call the show Brazil Before the Bossa,\u201d<\/a> he explained. \u201cBut the show actually shows that Bossa Nova existed before the label Bossa Nova existed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bach also highlighted the political dimensions behind the genre\u2019s global rise. \u201cWhat happens, is that the Brazilian government wants a type of Brazilian culture to be exported to the United States,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd they wanted a certain look to be attached with that music.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want this predominantly white and middle-class people that look nice in the pictures for them, to be the face advertised outside the country, and that’s what the Bossa Nova That label is for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rhythm, Harmony, and Misconceptions\u00a0<\/p>\n

A central theme of the performance, and the discussion leading up to it, is the complexity of Brazilian rhythm and harmony. While audiences often simplify the differences between samba and bossa nova, the reality is far more intricate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rhythm, there’s not\u00a0really like\u00a0that much difference,\u201d Bach explained. \u201cThere’s no rhythmic difference between the Bossa Nova and the Samba.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead, the distinction lies more in harmonic language. \u201cThe harmony, yes, jazz harmony with samba.\u00a0That’s\u00a0what bossa nova is,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Choro and the Emotional Core of Brazilian Music\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another key element of the program is choro, a foundational yet often misunderstood aspect of Brazilian music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, choro\u00a0is not like, and the thing that people get confused often is that choro it is not a style of its own. choro is a way to play,\u201d Bach explained. \u201cChoro in Portuguese means to cry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

This emotional quality defines the style. \u201cSo\u00a0when you play in a mournful way the instrument, like\u00a0you’re\u00a0moaning when\u00a0you’re\u00a0playing the instrument,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Choro encompasses a wide range of influences. \u201cThere’s polkas, there’s mazurkas, you know, there’s like some African rhythms like\u00a0lundu,\u201d Bach noted. \u201cThere’s even like Cuban habaneras on it, you know, so it’s a mixture of different styles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite its diversity, choro\u00a0remains\u00a0central to Brazil\u2019s musical evolution. \u201cChoro is\u00a0a very complex\u00a0music.\u00a0It’s\u00a0very rich,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd is the basis of all the Brazilian music, like the modern Brazilian music is all based on choro.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Concert Experience Rooted in Storytelling\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Epp and Bach,\u00a0Brazil Before Bossa Nova\u00a0is not just about performance, it\u2019s\u00a0about context, connection, and discovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, so we’re sort of going back in time and sharing some of the songs and the stories that go with them,\u201d Epp said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The program will include works by influential but sometimes overlooked figures. Bach highlighted one in particular: \u201cPlaying Johnny Alf’<\/a>s music a little bit, because he’s considered by many the father of Bossa Nova.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cBut because he was black and homosexual, he was left out of the Bossa Nova movement a little bit.\u00a0So\u00a0I always love playing his music and giving people the opportunity to know this amazing composer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Epp also looks forward to moments of audience connection. \u201cThere’s some songs that I didn’t know were so popular,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then when I sing it, if there’s any Brazilians there, they stand up, they’re crying, they’re really into it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

One such piece is especially meaningful: \u201cThere’s one called\u00a0Carinhoso, which is very well-loved around Brazil.\u00a0So\u00a0if\u00a0there’s\u00a0any Brazilians there,\u00a0I’m\u00a0going to look for their faces. I want to see how they react.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Language, Culture, and Community\u00a0<\/p>\n

Performing this repertoire comes with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to language. For Epp, singing in Portuguese is both rewarding and demanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, Portuguese is newer, so it’s still a challenge,\u201d she said. \u201cI’ve\u00a0been singing in Spanish for like 20 years, so\u00a0there’s\u00a0a lot of similarities.\u00a0They’re\u00a0like language cousins.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Still, the nuances require careful attention. \u201cPortuguese is a bit like English in a way, where you have the rule if it’s this kind of word, but if it’s here or in this context, you change it,\u201d she explained. \u201cDoing my best to learn, trying not to swear by accident, and doing my best.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her preparation includes collaboration and community. \u201cI also have a friend from Brazil who’s a linguist,\u201d she said. \u201cSo\u00a0I meet up with her once in a while when I have a big show… and then she helps me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

More Than Music: A Cultural Celebration\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ultimately, both\u00a0artists hope audiences leave with more than just an appreciation for the music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will understand more about what Brazilian culture is, and some of the politics that are attached with the music,\u201d Bach said. \u201cSo\u00a0you’re not going to only listen to music but you’re also going to learn a lot of things about music.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Epp, the concert is also a celebration of Winnipeg\u2019s cultural diversity. \u201cSomething personally that’s important to me is to celebrate the cultures of people that have moved to Winnipeg,\u201d she said. \u201cSo\u00a0this is one way we can do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The evening will even extend beyond the stage. \u201cWe’ve invited a lady to come sell her Brazilian food at the event… some more ways to share and celebrate,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the city gathers for this unique event,\u00a0Brazil Before Bossa Nova<\/a>\u00a0promises to be exactly what its creators intend: \u201can evening of rhythm, history, and irresistible energy,\u201d and a vivid reminder that music is not just something we hear, it\u2019s something we learn from, connect through, and carry forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss the chance to experience Brazil Before Bossa Nova<\/a>, a concert that is as enlightening as it is electrifying, blending masterful musicianship, rich storytelling, and the vibrant rhythms of Brazil into one unforgettable evening. Whether you\u2019re a longtime lover of Latin music or simply curious to explore something new, this performance promises to move you, teach you, and leave you inspired. Brazil Before Bossa Nova takes place this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the West End Cultural Centre, with doors opening at 7 p.m.<\/a>\u00a0Arrive early, soak in the atmosphere, and get ready to be transported.\"u;\"<\/p>\n

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