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Quebra Jereba

from Contragolpe by capoeira recording project

/

about

Quebra Gereba

It was the winter of 1996 in New York, and the thermometers were reading - 10⁰ C. Snow was everywhere, traffic was crazy, it was icy chaos. I was on my way to another capoeira class at Mestre João Grande's academy. When I got there, I found him alone, sitting on a bench fixing a caxixi.

Seizing the opportunity, I approached him and asked to sit next to him. He, always very receptive, agreed with a nod. I stood there watching him work.

A short while later, he said to me, "Hi Carioca, you're early!"

I smiled and once again taking advantage of his friendliness, I asked the master if he could answer me something. João looked at me sideways and nodded positively.

So I asked, "For me, one of the most beautiful capoeira moves is the "relógio" (clock). Do you know who invented it?"

Quickly, with a discreet but proud smile, he replied, "It was me, my son, it was me!"

As well as other questions and answers, we too remained silent. I was watching this gentleman of many trades and expertise, zealously repairing one of his many instruments.

Finally, without my asking, he spoke again and told me something I hadn't expected, "Carioca, do you know the song "Quebra Gereba?"

I said straight away, "Sure mestre, I sing it sometimes when I want to put more dendê in the roda."

He looked at me as if he expected this answer and corrected me, "But that's not what this corrido is for, my son."

I then looked away, a little awkwardly, curious for the next explanation, and he said, "This song is advice never to show everything you know at once. If you break everything today, tomorrow there will be nothing left to break, understand?"

"I understand, Mestre," I replied with surprise.

During those months in NY I learnt a lot from João, but above all I learnt to listen more than to speak.

This recording of "Quebra Gereba" is a tribute to dear master João Grande.

Artwork by @nickhayesillustrator

lyrics

QUEBRA GEREBA
(Public domain)

Voice: quebra gereba
Quire: quebra
Voice: vou quebrar tudo hoje
Quire: quebra
Voice: amanhã o que que quebra
Quire: quebra
Voice: amanhã nada quebra
Quire: quebra

credits

from Contragolpe, released July 13, 2018
Voice:
Carlo Alexandre (berimbau gunga)

Choir and Instrumentals:
Álvaro Garcia Cruz
Ania Burke
Angelica Landin (Instrutora Sereia)
Arantza Faiges
Catherine Gardner (reco-reco)
Daniela d’Ambra
Diana Sabogal
Fábio prado (pandeiro)
Frances Lima
Helena Nora
Jarrão Capoeira
Jenny (Azeitona)
John Gray
Kezia Lavan (agogô)
Laura Albertini
Miguel Santos (berimbau viola)
Nelio Rodrigues (berimbau médio) e Leon Rodrigues
Paul Healey (berimbau viola)
Simona Kucharova
Vitoria Cristina L. Aranha (berimbau médio, atabaque)

Technicians:
Marc Lee Brown, Sound Engineer
Joshua Gaskin Brown, recording assistant
Jassim Jaffer sound, engineering assistant

Recording @ Raw Material Music & Media Education

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Capoeira & Brazilian Experimental image

Capoeira & Brazilian Experimental London, UK

I was born in Rio de Janeiro, I started in capoeira when I was 16 years old. My artistic and creative training goes mainly through this art form. From there I learned music, film and theatre. Since 1996 I have been going back and forth from Brazil to the United Kingdom, and recently to Mexico, where I currently live. I worked in slums in Rio, theatre in London and productions in Asia and Scotland. ... more

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