Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Penticton Western News: Afro-Brazilian Celso 'Machado brings magic of the rainforest to showcase'

Celso Machado (b. 1953) is an Afro-Brazilian classical guitarist and composer who makes his home in Canada. His website is: http://www.CelsoMachado.com. He is also featured at AfriClassical.com.


Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

October 21, 2014

by Dale Boyd

The sound of the Brazilian rainforest is making its way to Penticton.

Celso Machado will be performing his unique musical showcase of Brazilian Music and Sounds of the Rainforest on Oct. 26 at the Cleland Theatre put on by Children’s Showcase.

Originally from Brazil, the four-time Juno nominee currently resides in Gibsons after moving to Canada a decade ago.

His musical base lies in classical guitar, but he brings a vast array of instruments to his performance. His set list acts like a bonafide musical tour of the world including pieces featuring Middle Eastern flute called a nay (or ney in some countries), a ngoni which is the great grandfather of the banjo originating from West Africa, as well as a 22-string African harp called a kora — which is so fragile he can’t take it with him on flights.

Alongside his instrumental range, Machado also produces soundscapes including birds, animals, rain and thunderstorms, all done without any pre-recorded accompaniment.

“It’s all done live with different sounds, there’s actually nothing recorded it’s all live,” Machado said.
The thunderstorm is a particularly challenging sound both to perform and prepare.

“You never stop to take a breath you keep on blowing in to the microphone continuously. It can go for five or 10 minutes nonstop.”

Machado says he has to assure concert technicians that the microphones are the right type and in the right position.

“They get really surprised when I show them the position I want the microphone in. They say it’s not going to work, so that has been a challenge for me,” Machado laughed.

Perhaps the most interesting of his many instruments is a one-of-a-kind porous rock he found on a beach, which he blows in to to make a unique sound.


“Sometimes the kids ask what my favourite instrument is and I tell them my favourite one is this particular rock because i found it on a beach. Nobody can claim any copyrights on that.”

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