Choperia SESC Pompéia

On 26 November we had a taste of what is to come. Warmed up by whisky and rum, the launch of the Brazilian - Scottish edition of MPB-BPM included the first public musical encounter in the project - Alfredo Bello and Alan Bryden played together, accompanied by the percussionist Gustavo Souza.

Alfredo and Alan got together the day before to rehearse and decide what they would play for the public at SESC Pompeia. One afternoon rehearsing is not much in comparison to what will happen in March, when there will be at least seven days of intensive rehearsal, preceded by ´virtual interaction` through this site. Nevertheless, what happened on stage was very well received by the public. Marcos Guzman, a well - known music producer, said afterwards:
" this was one of the best electronic jazz collaborations between a DJ and live musicians that I have seen in Brazil."
Thanks a lot, Marcos!

We also had good coverage in the press. Folha de São Paulo previewed the event in an article by Diego Assis: http://www.uol.com.br/fsp/acontece/ac2611200202.htm and the TV arts magazine programme Metropolis covered the launch in a long piece on 3 December.

Tamsin Austin, our Scottish collaborator from the other side of the Atlantic, was also there. She took the chance to get to know all the Brazilian musicians involved and gave some great ideas for collaboration between the musicians on and off the website.

Now we are launched, our fingers are poised to send news of developments in the project as soon as they happen.