Beth Carvalho, one of Brazil's most beloved samba singers whose zesty alto voice floated airily above the booming churn of the samba drum and driving samba guitar, died in Rio de Janeiro on April 30. She was 72.
On her many albums dating back to 1969, Carvalho's lilting vocals contrasted neatly with the heavy samba, making it seem as if she were sailing speedily across a wind-chopped surface. Carvalho's passionate feel and festive delivery transformed the pulsating Carnival parade beat into the cadence of love.
While the popular bossa nova in the 1960s was a soft folk form noted for its delicate, addictive rhythm and whispering vocals, the sensual music was largely an export. This was especially true after the military overthrow of the Brazilian government in 1964, when many bossa nova stars left the country for commercial opportunities abroad or did not return. At home, the samba remained the joyous music of the people. In time, Carvalho became known as the "Godmother of the Samba."
As a tribute to Beth Carvalho, here are a handful of my favorites:
Here's Fechei a Parta from Carvalho's album Andança in 1969...
Here's Homenagem a Nelson Cavaquinho from Carvalho's Canto por um novo dia in 1973...
Here's Agora É Portela 74 from Carvalho's Pra seu governo in 1974...
Here's Vingança from Carvalho's Nos Botequins da Vida in 1977...
And here's perhaps Carvalho's most famous song, Andança, from Ao Vivo No Olympia in 1991...
Bonus: Here's Carvalho singing Andança in concert...
And here's a video running more than an hour of an exquisite Carvalho performance. Listen to the hypnotic washing-machine churn of the samba...
