10 Super Sexy Brazilian Songs - Valentine's Day + Carnival

MUSIC:

Valentine's Day and Carnival are bright spots in wintery February. Valentine's Day is a centuries old, heartwarming tradition celebrating romance. Carnival is a centuries old tradition too of bacchanalian parties and parades, that herald Lent, the pious period before Easter. In America, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in New Orleans is a famous Carnival celebration. The massive, world renowned Carnival parade in Rio de Janiero is steeped in passion, from exuberant samba to sexy costumes. Brazilian music oozes sensuality and romance.

Cooking Lounge invited DJ Greg Caz to select 10 Super Sexy Brazilian Songs to celebrate Valentine's Day and Carnival. 

Greg Caz garnered international acclaim with Brazilian Beats Brooklyn, co-founded with Sean Marquand. The Brazilian Beats DJ Sessions at Black Betty, a pioneering music venue in Williamsburg Brooklyn, are legend. Now, Brazilian Beats is an roving, occasional event. Greg Caz is a sought-after international DJ and a great writer too; so, we are jazzed to have him contribute to Cooking Lounge.

You can find music from Greg Caz here: 

Brazilian Beats Brooklyn CD

Baile Funk 2: Agora e Moda - Various Artists

Greg Caz presents The Soul of Samba-Rock by Various Artists

At the end of this post, there are a few bonus links.

****************************

GREG CAZ

...now, you must realize of course that "super sexy Brazilian songs" is a bit redundant, most people need only hear any music with someone singing in Portuguese and they're immediately thinking "sex," so I literally could put ANYTHING on this list and it would be all good. Right or wrong? But here goes anyway...

1. Marcos has been exploring different aspects of music and the sexiness thereof since the 60s, and this quiet-storm slow-burner from the early 80s is ideal for feeding each other grapes.
Marcos Valle "Fogo Do Sol"

2. Brazilians are sexy even when singing about Jesus, as on this late-90s gem from an all-Afro-Brazilian female gospel vocal group.
Grupo Ebano "Pe No Chao"

3. Pianist, composer, vocalist and Bossa Nova precursor Johnny Alf charms the pants off us with this 1971 beauty (with Os Tres Morais on backing vocals) about a lovely young lady named Anabela who keeps him awake at night thinking about her.
Johnny Alf "Anabela"

4. Doris is well-known for her understated, intimate and veeeerrry sexy singing style, as heard on this Caetano Veloso cover.
Doris Monteiro "De Noite Na Cama"

5. Donato is a giant and a myth and a legend, a pianist/composer who has made his mark in bossa nova, jazz, Latin music and all things funky. This is a collaboration with Gilberto Gil who also sings on this track.
Joao Donato "Tudo Tem"

6. The Marcos Valle and João Donato influences are clear on this very sexy number from the always-amazing Ed Motta.
Ed Motta "Coisas Naturais"

7. It would be a crime to leave out one of Brazilian music's most notoriously sexy singers. Her early records were a favorite around my house in my childhood, when I didn't know what "sex" was, but Fafa's voice and album covers definitely began to clue me in! Beautiful Milton Nascimento composition. "Seduction," indeed.
Fafa de Belem "Seducao"

8. If this classic song from Brazil's all-time iconic female singer doesn't put you in mind of a romantic dinner, romance and lovemaking, NOTHING will.
Elis Regina "Dois Pra La, Dois Pra Ca" 

9. Cravo & Canela only made one album in 1977 (not 1976 like it says on the video) but what a classic it is. "Iboru Iboyá" oozes sexiness and classiness from the first note to the last.
Cravo & Canela "Iboru Iboya"

10. "Come Sleep At My Place, so I can give you my dreams and my love." I love playing this at the end of a night DJing, when "deals" are being "closed"
Tim  Maia "Venha Dormir en Casa" (Come Sleep At My Place)

****************************

If you like DJ Greg Caz's selections, check-out his YouTube Channel.

Cooking Lounge created a YouTube Playlist of the 10 Super Sexy Brazilian Songs, with over 30 minutes of 'getting busy' music for you.

FOOD:

Sexy Sweet Recipe: Strawberry Dipped in Dark Chocolate with Grand Marnier

Enjoy,

Cooking Lounge

Interview_Margo Patisserie Cafe_Almond Croissant

FOOD:
Flaky, buttery croissants are a hard to find french staple, done properly, even in New York City. 
Margo Patisserie is a cozy cafe tucked away at the corner of Driggs & Fillmore Place, in uber locale of the moment, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Margo Patisserie is unpretentious, laid-back and authentic with selections from sweet to savory, along with outdoor seating and free wifi. Margo Patisserie caught my attention when I needed a quick afternoon bite. I went for a coffee and pain au chocolat (which was excellent) but kept staring at an empty row, flecked with pasty flakes, that had held almond croissants. Ummmm, almond croissants - not too sweet, moist, filling and rich. A few weeks later, I stopped and tried the almond croissant...one of the best ever. Supporting small, artisanal food businesses is good for the taste buds. Here's a video we shot with the owner, Margo, about making almond croissants at Margo Patisserie Cafe. The music is Tres Tres Chic from Mocean Worker. Have a look.

video:wbj

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

Fresh Leather - DUNLIN

LIFESTYLE:

Wandering a tree lined stretch of Havemeyer on Williamsburg's Southside after my friend christened her new gallery in Bushwick, I was struck by a soft, moody glow emanating from a small shop. Aged patina, antiquated lighting, bygone era aura fills this tucked away gem. And, the smell of leather saturates the air. Hand-crafted leather at DUNLIN.

photos: wbj HTC Hero

Enjoy!

Cooking Lounge

Honeychiles' Po Boys

FOOD:

Jesse Crawford, co-owner
photo:wbj

Oyster po' boy and Fish po' boys at Honeychiles'
photo: wbj

Jesse Crawford, one of the owners, was behind the counter at Honeychiles' when I went in after a show in Williamsburg (see music post below).  Went in with a couple of friends wanting a good, filling, and fast meal to soak up the beers before bedtime). Honeychiles' name brought a big smile to my face thinking about all the sunshine in this southern term of endearment.  I could hear the distant lilt of grandmothers and aunts in Virginia. Perfect place on a summer night for seafood po' boys and a cold beer.  Honeychiles' is inside the Charleston, a rocker bar on Bedford Avenue and North 7th.  The food was the attraction not the insouciant, tattooed and just-so-coiffed bar patrons. The oyster po' boy was crunchy on the outside with a juicy, briny, fresh oysters crowding an pretty average italian roll slathered with a lemony remoulade sauce and shredded iceberg lettuce.  My friends found the fish po' boys equally good even a bit large because they had to skip out on the bread and go for the fish.  There are other items on the menu worth trying. Honeychiles' has been getting lots of press for it's punk meets New Orleans comfort food m.o. Go early to avoid the 'scene' and grab a table and a cold one. 
MUSIC:

NOT BLOOD PAINT

Not Blood Paint
In early August, I saw Not Blood Paint at Cameo in Williamsburg. Cameo is a backroom performance space behind The Loving Cup Cafe on North 6th Street.  A raw room with high ceilings, lots of concrete and brick so not the best acoustics but still a good room.  Never felt like the music was bouncing all over the place.  Met up with Leisa Arndt from TrashCan Magazine and our friend Carlos to see Not Blood Paint (NBP).  TrashCan is a new online mag where Leisa wrote a music review for NBP.  A few weeks later FREE WILLIAMSBURG, posted an article, "Not Blood Paint: Band Most Likely to Start a Cult",  that peeps in on the NBP's fanatical followers and straight-out-of-bushwick cred.  Wondering if NBP is this art hood's Fischerspooner?. Not Blood Paint made me think of Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust days.  NBP had crazy presence with a theatrical and choreographed performance that would have kept you caught in the onstage antics and projected visuals if they weren't such a solid  band with each member in the mix on vocals. 
Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge!