“É ele, é ele. É um Brazil que Brazil não conhece.”

Naná Vasconcelos (1944-2016) brought spirit and soul into everything he touched. He was close to Nature, close with animals, close with the people around him, close to the gods. As a result, he was close to himself. He listened carefully to his inner voice and had the courage to let that voice speak bravely.

His unique approach to the berimbau channeled his profound spirituality and everyone who heard him play felt it. His music came into my life in an unexpected and powerful way listening to his recordings in 1999. His passionate berimbau performances on his solo album Saudades (1980) struck a note deeply in my soul and I have been playing the berimbau and following its voice ever since.