Octacilio Rocha

"Bossa" is "tendency", the way things are going. Hence "Bossa Nova", "the New Direction", that beautiful music which, under the genius and tutelage of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, and others, swept Brazil (and much of the world) in the early 1960's.

What's Bossa got to do with us? Well, we're English and Brazilian. And the Brazilian half is a jazz-guitar player (who was playing in London when he met the English half) steeped in the tradition, rhythms, and songbook of bossa nova. If there's any music that is of both heart and mind, this is it.

And more, one of bossa nova's biggest hits and loveliest compostions is Tarde em Itapoan, by poet Vinicius de Moraes and master-guitarist Toquinho. "Tarde em Itapoan" translates to "Afternoon in Itapoan", and the song is an homage to love and a beach. Not just any beach... our beach! The love you'll have to provide yourself.

There's more on Vinicius, Toquinho, and their music here, with a midi recording of Tarde em Itapoan here.

Tetê Espíndola's new release features my composition "Zum Zum", which may be streamed via the player below...

Zum Zum

My own take on the song is quite a bit different...

Zum Zum

Bia Rocha

Here, Brazilian songstress Beatriz Rocha sings another one of my compositions, a bossa nova tune recorded at Studio Palco Livre and entitled Dama da Noite (lovely Bia is the eldest of my two daughters)...

At Encanto de Itapoan we not only believe in the magic of music, we believe in its almost mystical ability to bring people together.  To this end our poolside bar/common area is constantly bathed by some of the loveliest compositions ever conceived and recorded in Brazil.  Friday evenings, moreover, are (usually) given over to live jam sessions with myself and friends.  You are cordially invited to bring your own instrument along and sit in!  (If you are interested in studying music during your stay here in Salvador we can help you arrange classes, lessons, and recording sessions.)

With gatherings in mind, and in light of the fact that by its nature a pousada brings together people unknown to each other, plus the truism that the first step whereby strangers become friends is "breaking the ice", we are very proud to say that here at Encanto de Itapoan we prepare and serve an icebreaker nonpareil!  That would be our own version of Brazil's famous caipirinha, a drink which, although of humble origins ("caipirinha" means "little hillbilly"), when properly prepared (it must be, per Ian Fleming's dictum, shaken not stirred) becomes a subtle, sophisticated, and soul-warming elixir.

Brazil's National Cooler

In the case that you might have a hankering for a good caipirinha (or two... ) and are unfortunately unable to join us here by the pool, we are reticently breaking with tradition to give you our caipirinha recipe, enabling you to stir up your own (or shake up your own, rather) wherever you happen to be (and assuming you can get your hands on a good cachaça!).