From the enthusiasm and applause of the packed house at the “Blue Note” nightspot here in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, MPB (reads “Brazilian Popular Music”) singer, guitarist and composer Zelia Duncan,60, is quite popular and well known.
(But not to this hibernated oboist-composer, immersed in the so-called erudite music world!)
For the audience was young, old, heterosexual, gay, etc. and many seemed to know her songs, even moving their lips or singing along as Zelia, who was accompanied by a chorus of two female singers, two guitarists, a pianist and percussionist presenting a show called “Lado Z.”
“SIDE Z” was developed especially for this intimate Bluenote space in Rio and its equivalent in Sao Paulo, according to the official blurb for the show.
Googling the biography of Ms. Duncan—who for we old timers is a bit of a shocker because in the fashion of current pop music “she” resembles a “he” not only in voice but in appearance—we note her voice and repertoire have captivated audiences not only all over Brazil but from Dubai to California and the Sundance film festival as well on Brazil´s popular novelas, or soap operas.
The show—especially to this observer accustomed to the more or less rehearsed presentations of local performers—is entirely upbeat, professional and extremely well organized. Meaning lots of rehearsals and planning have gone into Ms. Duncans show earning her one new fan, ME!
And one leaves the performance dancing ,singing and clapping his or her hands in ecstasy—all much needed in these troubled times!
Zelia extending invitations to participate in her show to two young women sitting near my perch on the second floor of this lovely showcase (with a view of the Atlantic Ocean) showed that the star of the show has the humility to allow others to shine and that variety is indeed the spice of life.
Originally from Niteroi, across the Bay from Marvelous City (RJ) Ms. Duncan will be at the Blue Note in Sao Paulo on 5 December at 20hs and 22:30hs and back in Rio de Janeiro 6 and 13 June at 20hs and 2230hs.
Her outstanding backup group-band include Ezio Filho, direction and bass, Webster Santos (guitar and cavaco,an electric cavaquinho or Brazilian ukelele), Leo Brandao (keyboard and accordion) and vocalists Senhorita Paola and Luanah Jones.
Note: After the trial run from August 2017 to early 2019 in Rio´s Lagoa/Lagoon neighborhood which “Nao deu Certo” or didn’t work financially-opened 5 October 2023 at its current address Avenida Atlantica 1910 near the Copacabana Palace Hotel.
It is considerably more spacious than its namesake in New York where some of the great names of jazz like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Ornette Coleman thrilled audiences.
Downstairs a bar and restaurant area for 140 persons was treated Friday evening to an outstanding young jazz pianist Adaury Mothe.
Now if only Carioca audiences would learn to keep quiet and not converse when a fine young jazzman is playing!
Hopefully the Bluenote, whose online schedule includes shows almost every evening, will expand its programming to so-called “erudite “music and more of Rio´s famous chorinho world.