Choro Conversations, by Julie Koidin

In 2002, American flutist Julie Koidin set out on an exciting musical journey. Starting in Rio de Janeiro she traveled to five other Brazilian capital cities (Brasília, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife, and São Paulo) seeking to meet, play and converse with a wide range of musicians, all with a connection to choro. Koidin combines her travel memoirs with intimate conversations about life, love and music. Her intent is to allow the reader to feel as if he or she is part of the conversation through her detailed portrayals of each interview subject, as well as her vivid remembrances of each encounter. Koidin writes from the perspective of a cultural outsider. Choro Conversations, therefore, also serves as a portrait of contemporary Brazilian culture through the eyes of a foreigner. Her stories are often sprinkled with humor as she details her missteps as she navigates her new surroundings. In total, Choro Conversations contains 52 interviews with leading musicians and writers all with a connection to choro. Musicians include legends such as Altamiro Carrilho, Carlos Malta, Hermeto Pascoal, Sivuca, Guinga, Reco do Bandolim, Mario Sève, Silvério Pontes, Proveta, Izaias do Bandolim, Yamandu Costa, Paulo Moura, César Faria, Joel Nascimento, Luciana Rabello and many more!