Music in the Square : Choro Louco

Brazilian Choro has been around for over a hundred years. Its beautiful melodies, complex harmonies, and syncopated rhythms combine elements of European folk and classical, ragtime, jazz, Latin, and African music creating a style that is uniquely Brazilian and enormously appealing.

The members of Choro Louco started meeting informally in 2013 to play through some choro tunes – and have evolved into a classic sounding choro ensemble. They are driven by a love of the music and a desire to share it with others. None have ever been to Brazil, but they’re crazy enough to give it a try…hence the name, Choro Louco…

Carl Dimow, flute and guitar, has played jazz, classical, and klezmer music here and abroad with the Casco Bay Tummlers, and numerous other ensembles. Nicole Rabata, Carl’s former student and now a teacher herself, is best known in celtic music circles, but also plays classical flute with the Colby College orchestra and the Bangor symphony. Joel Eckhaus comes from an old time/jazz/pop/vaudeville background and has applied his knowledge of the ukulele to the cavaquinho, Brazil’s version of the uke. David Newsam. 7-string guitar and mandolin, brings decades of experience as a jazz and classical guitarist to his choro playing. Eric La Perna, fabulous percussionist with Okbari and Alhan, brings his great hand percussion skills to the pandeiro, the Brazilian tambourine.