Dori Caymmi's Poesia Musicada / Poetry Set to Music

Brazilian composer, arranger, and guitarist

Dori Caymmi has a stunning new album out. It’s called

Poesia Musicada

, which roughly means “Poetry Set to Music”. Dori, along with siblings Nana and Danilo, comes from Brazilian musical royalty: their father, Dorival Caymmi, was the patriarch who paved the way for Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Caetano Veloso and all who followed him. Dorival also introduced Carmen Miranda in 1939 when she was still unknown. The debut song was called “O Que é Que a Baiana Tem” (“What is it about Bahian Women”) and was a big hit. By 1945 she was the highest-paid woman in the world.

The new cd celebrates the partnership between Caymmi and Brazilian poet Paulo Cesar Pinheiro, which has endured over 40 years. The poetry makes a perfect lyrical complement to the music Dori penned around it. Hence the title Poesia Musicada, Musical Poetry, or Poetry Set to Music.

Several interesting things have happened in my life because of Dori. I met the architect who built my home while waiting in line at Le Café in Sherman Oaks years ago. I traveled the jungle waterways in Sarawak’s rain forests listening to Dori singing about the beauty of nature and the sea. I once played my alto flute at a party with him playing the acoustic guitar. These memories run deep.

The new cd comes out in November, and I will be featuring it regularly on my shows. Here’s a sneak audio preview:

“Estrela Cinco Pontes” (The 5-pointed Star) [audio:http://blogs.kcrw.com/rhythmplanet/audio/EstrelaCinco.mp3]

Dori Caymmi has a rare LA show Sat 6/23 @ The Kirk Douglas Theater, Culver City (@ duquesne and culver blvd.). He’ll be playing songs from this special cd.