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Brazilian Culture Month 2012
F
or the 9
th
consecutive year, the Pharos Arts
Foundation, the Honorary Consulate of
Brazil and the Embassy of Brazil in Cyprus
presented the
Brazilian Culture Month
during
October and November.
A series of events dedicated to the art and cul-
ture of Brazil,
Brazilian Culture Month
2012
showcased Brazilian culture through art, mu-
sic, films, books and educational programmes.
Events included the 9
th
Brazilian Film Festival,
Brazilian Book Month, a book presentation by
Dr Ioannis Lyras (Honorary Consul of Brazil
in Piraeus), a concert by sensational jazz singer
Ithamara Koorax and a recital by popular singer
Cadu de Andrade and pianist Farlley Derze.
A Jazz Evening with Ithamara Koorax
5 October, The Shoe Factory, Nicosia
6 October, Graffiti Lounge Bar, Limassol
Considered one of the top singers in the con-
temporary jazz scene, Ithamara Koorax was
voted 3
rd
in the
Downbeat
2008 and 2009 Read-
ers Polls for Best Female Vocalist (behind only
Diana Krall and Cassandra Wilson). Journalist
and historian Scott Yanow named her one of the
best jazz singers of all time in his book,
The
Jazz Singers - The Ultimate Guide
, which was
recently published in the USA.
Koorax’s 2009 album,
Bim Bom - The Com-
plete João Gilberto Songbook
, received rave
reviews from
The New York Times
,
JazzTimes
,
Cashbox
,
Billboard
,
Jazz Hot
,
Jazz ‘n’ More
,
and from many other websites, magazines and
newspapers. It was voted one of the Best Al-
bums of 2009 by
All About Jazz-NY
,
The Vil-
lage Voice
and Latin Jazz Network. Another
recent CD,
O Grande Amor
, which Koorax
recorded during a 2010 European tour, was
also released worldwide to critical acclaim;
the album was given a 4.5 star review in the
May 2011 issue of
Downbeat
and 5 stars in
Jazz ‘n’ More
. Chris Slawecki, Senior Editor
of
All About Jazz
, wrote of the album: “Perhaps
there’s an easier way to describe it, but if Bar-
bara Streisand ever went into a recording stu-
dio with Michel Legrand and Miles Davis,
O
Grande Amor
is what might have come out. It
is simply stunning and spectacular.”
Koorax has recorded 15 solo albums, 17 sound-
tracks and participated in more than 200 special