Last night was a landmark for me. I recorded a track on Casuarina's first CD. It was recorded at the Biscoito Fino Studio in Rio by one of Rio's top engineers. I played pandeiro de nylon (plastic head pandeiro) and reco-reco. I guess it went really well because both the engineer and the guys said it was cool after the first take. But just to get a bit looser I asked to have a second pass. This recording may have been the first of any gringo pandeiro player in Brasil. I can't confirm that, but it's just a guess.

Scott recording
Scott recording 2
Casurarina listening to a playback
Scott and João (this is one of Lenine's sons)

Quote from João I received a few weeks after the session (I had given him mp3s of my CDs as a guitarist from way back when):

"By the way, I’m now listening to you playing the guitar… wow! How can it happen? Such a great guitar player turns into the first gringo tambourine player that recorded in an authentic brazilian samba album… this world really turns!
Kepp contact!
Abs,
João"

Last night I got called to play a little gig at a restaurant in Ipanema. The place was a bit strange and the music was so-so, but I had a blast. Why? Two kids, a brother and sister, Juliana and Leonardo (ages 8 and 5) approached the "roda" before the second set. They were just adorable, sweet, smiling kids who wanted to sample the percussion instruments. Usually this would be just a drag, but they really wanted to try to play correctly and they were just so damn cute.

I gave them tons of attention and encouraged them to play during the set. Juliana took to the "reco-reco" really well and little Leonardo liked the tamborim. They were those kinds of kids (that you find more in Brasil) that look right into your eyes and smile without any sense of embarrassment. Man, we had a blast. They were calling me "Tio", which means uncle (that's pretty common here) and when it was time to leave they didn't want me to go and started climbing all over me. One older guy in the restaurant came over to me and said I should start a children's school! Another woman asked me if the kids were mine. Very funny.

I left the gig buzzing, but before I did I went over to their mother and congratulated her on her two wonderful kids.

Here's a cute story. I was at my friend Luciana's house the other day in Leblon. While I was there she had a João Bosco CD playing and when I left her place I found myself singing "O Bebado e a Equlibrista", a famous Brazilian song by João Bosco and Aldir Blanc. I was on my bike and had just taken the path along the beach when I look to my right and pass by .... João Bosco walking/streching along the pedestrian path. Only in Rio de Janeiro ...