Skip to main content
Global routes with Tony Burke: September 24, 2023
Side by side, Brazil’s future and Mali’s past
GR

SAO PAULO-based Afro-Brazilian 10-piece horn-led band Bixiga 70 return to the studio with a new set on Glitterbeat Records called Vapor — their first studio outing since 2018.

Since then Brazil has changed culturally and politically.

The pandemic hit Brazil hard. Baritone sax man Cuca Ferreira told the Morning Star: “Being a large band we’ve always depended on our live performances to exist. So when the pandemic came we were severely hurt, and we were not sure if we would be able to keep the band active. Everyone had to invent something new to do and make some money, it was really tough. We only started creating something new when things got better and we were able to meet again.”

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
TB albums
Album Reviews / 3 March 2025
3 March 2025
New releases by Samba Touré, Santrofi, and Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko 
SCARING TRUMP: (Left to right) Brazil’s President Luiz Ina
Features / 24 February 2025
24 February 2025
The towering figures of the North American right and the South American left are set to clash this summer as Brazil hosts Brics, an alliance Trump is determined to smash, reports TONY BURKE
US unions
Features / 11 January 2025
11 January 2025
The looming Trump presidency has forced unions to rebuild their unity and strength, writes TONY BURKE, as the SEIU returns to the AFL-CIO, healing the 2005 rift over organising priorities and getting ready to fight the right together
rory
Culture / 30 December 2024
30 December 2024
A horn of plenty, no less!
Similar stories
TB albums
Album Reviews / 3 March 2025
3 March 2025
New releases by Samba Touré, Santrofi, and Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko 
GR
Global Routes / 2 December 2024
2 December 2024
Two new releases from Burkina Faso and Niger, one from French-based Afro Latin The Bongo Hop, and rare Mexican bootlegs
GR
Global Routes / 25 October 2024
25 October 2024
Brazilian groove, Black Africa and Malian mixtures
burke
Global routes / 22 May 2024
22 May 2024
The Jimi Hendrix of the kora, pure Soviet guitar and North African funk