Alvorada

Having lived in Rio de Janeiro for many years and being really into live music I’ve heard a lot of choro music in my time and I can honestly say Alvorada comes out there right on top. It doesn’t seem to matter that some of the band are not Brazilian; they all play with supreme talent and an infectious, authentic Brazilian style which just makes you want to get up and dance. A few months ago we had the pleasure of having them here in London at an enormously successful Florence Latin Jazz house concert. It will definitely not be the last time.

I was about to experience another birthday with a nought on the end and a party seemed the appropriate way to acknowledge another of life’s landmark dates. A party needs focus and a good band would provide it. The grapevine produced the notion of booking 5 piece Latino outfit Alvorada and I couldn’t have chosen better musical entertainment for the occasion. They are a five piece outfit of great musicians with strong melody interplay between Rachel Hayter’s fluent flute and Andrew Woolf’s dexterous clarinet. Their fellow musicians all play slightly obscure instruments (resembling tambourine, ukulele and a guitar with a weird number of strings) providing fabulous rhythms. So whilst the band are a terrific listen and produce a refreshing and original musical experience, they also almost inevitably invite an unstoppable dance reaction. On a practical level Alvorada were friendly, cooperative and professional and set up with the minimum of fuss. They were the highlight of the evening and I would fully recommend them for all kinds of bookings.