Afro Sambas
Baden Powell
1990
Why This Album Matters
Os Afro-Sambas, released in 1966, is an indelible landmark in Baden Powell's discography and in the history of Brazilian music, acclaimed as the synthesis of the exploration of African roots in MPB. The album stands out for its innovative rhythmic choices and for its themes and sonorities intrinsically linked to Afro-Brazilian religious and festive practices. It represents a culmination point in Powell's collaboration with Vinícius de Moraes, consolidating a unique musical language that transcends genres. The work reaffirms Baden Powell as one of the leading Brazilian guitarists of the 20th century, recognised for his virtuosity, technical originality, and a remarkable ability to integrate elements of samba, bossa nova, jazz, and African matrices into a particular style. Critically, the album positions Baden Powell in a hybrid territory, engaging with the intimate aesthetic of bossa nova and the vigour of samba-jazz and instrumental virtuosity. This stylistic fusion broadened its reception, making it relevant both in the field of popular song and in the technical and erudite domain of solo guitar.
Context
Baden Powell's partnership with Vinícius de Moraes is considered the most famous of the guitarist's career, resulting in dozens of compositions, among them the acclaimed afro-sambas. Powell and 'o Poetinha', the latter a diplomat and a central bossa nova composer, met in 1960. From this union between the rising young composer and the celebrity already consolidated in the Brazilian cultural scene, emblematic songs emerged such as "Canção de Ninar Meu Bem", "Sonho de Amor e Paz", "Canto de Xangô" and "Canto de Ossanha", which paved the way for the creation of Os Afro-Sambas.
Songs
The compositions on Os Afro-Sambas are a profound exploration of African matrices in Brazilian popular music, evidenced both in the rhythmic choices and in the themes and sonorities that evoke Afro-Brazilian religious and festive practices. The work stands out for its use of expanded metrics, hemiolas and multiple timelines, characteristics frequently associated with both traditional samba and African practices of rhythmic organisation. This album transcends the mere fusion of styles, articulating complex cultural dialogues. It examines the boundaries between the revaluation and appropriation of Afro-religious referents, exploring the invention and representation of traditions through music. The sonorities and lyrics of the songs delve into the mystical and cultural universe of Afro-descendant Brazil, offering an innovative and respectful perspective.
Legacy
Released in 1966, Os Afro-Sambas was immediately acclaimed by critics and the public, consolidating its status as a seminal work. The album occupies a central place in critical analyses of Baden Powell's trajectory, being highlighted as a turning point in the exploration of African roots in Brazilian popular music. Its repercussion encompasses contemporary musicological discussions that scrutinise the inventiveness and cultural representation of the work, analysing how the album articulates dialogues and reflects on the revaluation of Afro-religious referents in Brazilian culture. The continuing relevance of Os Afro-Sambas ensures its status as one of the most important albums in MPB.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Quarteto Em Cy
Ernesto Ribeiro Gonçalves
Sutinho
Paulo Guimarães
Baden Powell
Valdeci
Flavio Neves
Alfredo Bessa
Marcio Menescal
Tadeu Nogueira
Christian Rose
Podcasts
Brazuca Sounds · Leandro Vignoli
In episode #90, we explored one of the most revered albums in Brazilian music history. Recorded live between January 3rd and 6th, 1966, Os Afro-Sambas has endured decades of change and upheaval in Brazil’s musical landscape. The unlikely duo behind it—Baden Powell, a 24-year-old virtuoso guitarist of poor Afro-Brazilian origins, and Vinícius de Moraes, 51, celebrated white-diplomat songwriter of G
A décima oitava edição do Programa Ficha Técnica tem como tema o disco "Os Afro-Sambas", de Vinicius de Moraes e Baden Powell. Produção/Criação/Apresentação: Larissa Campos/Raul Fortes Edição: Luciano Campbell
Adega Musical · Andre Valdez
ÊPA BABÁ OXALÁ/EXÊ BABÁ! O PROGRAMA PEDE A BÊNÇÃO A TODOS OS ORIXÁS PRO AFRO-SAMBAS APRESENTAR!Há 60 anos, em meio à forte repressão que vivia o país e às incertezas de uma nação, dois amigos boêmios geniais, despretensiosamente, iriam entregar ao povo brasileiro um dos mais valorosos e influentes álbuns da música popular brasileira. De uma imersão na sonoridade advinda da Bahia de Todos os Santos
Videos
OS AFRO-SAMBAS (1966): PROF. DR. ROBERTO BOZZETTI (UFRRJ) & LEON NAVARRO - DOZE LPS + 1 BÔNUS
Literaturas, Linguagens e Contextos - UFRRJ
Films
Analyses
.: interlúdio :. Baden Powell (1937-2000) e Vinicius de Moraes (1913 ...
pqpbach.ars.blog.br
Pena, pois é uma versão encantadora! É bom notar que contém só 8 faixas; foi na versão de 1990 que Baden incluiu mais dois Afro-Sambas - creio que já integrantes da produção original, apenas não gravados na ocasião - mais uma impressionante introdução instrumental.
Baden Powell / Os Afro Sambas / RootsWorld Recording Review
rootsworld.com
This absolutely essential reissue shows just how deeply Baden Powell Africanized Brazilian bossa nova (blurring the lines between it and samba) and both cemented and modernized the musical links between Brazil and Africa that had already existed for centuries.
[4/1000] Baden Powell e Vinicius de Moraes - Os Afro Sambas
umcatalogo.substack.com
Minha relação com os LPs mudou mesmo quando entendi que estava montando uma coleção, e isso aconteceu no dia em que eu levei a minha obra magna pra casa. Vou falar melhor desse disco quando chegar no álbum branco do Toquinho e Vinicius e a importância que eles dois tiveram na minha vida.
Pequenidades: "Afro é todo o Brasil e está dentro da gente" : Os Afro ...
pequenidades.blogspot.com
Mais um texto sobre o segundo disco Afro Sambas da década de 1990 no Blog da Loja Axé! Para ler "Afro é todo o Brasil e está dentro da gente" : Os Afro Sambas de Baden Powell (1990)"cliquei aqui
Os Afro Sambas - Baden Powell (1990) | Órfãos do Loronix
orfaosdoloronix.wordpress.com
After several gentle requests, zecalouro presents Baden Powell and the Afro Sambas. The Afro Sambas was originally recorded in 1966, while this one was recorded by Baden and Quarteto em Cy without Vinicius de Moraes in 1990.
Discogs
Afro Sambas – Discogs
discogs.com