The Amazing Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso

If there is one musical figure I admire more than any other it Mike Marshall. For the longest time I thought I liked David Grisman and of course I do, it is a requirement as a mandolin player. But I slowly realized through the years that I think it's Mike's solos on the original DGQ album that I'm the most excited about. They jump off the record with a melodic and brightness that Dawg's just don't have. That's purely subjective opinion mind you and I may be wrong about some of the solos but for the most part I think I can tell who is playing what and I like Mike.

So to stick with the South American theme today I present Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso. Mike is an avid chef and for some reason the spicy syncopation of this work fits really well in the kitchen so I've cooked many meals to Choro music. Put it on and make up some fresh pico de gallo. (Ok so that may be a cliche dish to suggest I get it, but I can't make anything like the Patacon at El Arepazo, so I'll stick to simple fresh Pico, you can't go wrong.) 

I've attempted many times to learn even the most simple Choro melodies, there aren't many of those, and for the most part am bewildered by the time signatures and complexity of the music. It's feels like a beautiful simple groove most of the time, but wow is it a tough thing to master, and master it he has.

Take a gander.

If you are in the area they will be playing the Savannah Music Festival in Savannah Georgia on April 1st. 

Associate Director of SMF's Acoustic Music Seminar, Mike Marshall is one of the world's most accomplished mandolinists. Marshall began his love affair with the music of Brazil after a visit there, before embarking on an in-depth study of the roots of the Brazilian choro. This obsession has led to recordings and concerts with some of Brazil's finest musicians, including Hamilton de Holanda, Danilo Brito, Jovino Santos Neto and Hermeto Pascoal. His group Choro Famoso has helped spearhead a wave in the U.S. for this infectious style and features clarinetist/soprano saxophonist Andy Connell, 7-string guitarist Colin Walker and percussionist and pandeiro player Brian Rice. Their new recording, Segunda Vez, spans virtually the entire history of the choro from 1870 to the present, forming the repertoire of this concert. - See more at: http://www.savannahmusicfestival.org/2015-performances/mike-marshall-choro-famoso.php#sthash.yhx5iqIn.dpuf

Take a listen to one of their recent albums on Spotify. Maybe some of the summer warmth of Brazil will rub on us and bring a little light into the bleak mid-winter.

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