I am a big fan of things Brazilian, and an 8-day trip some years ago led to a love of its music, food, beaches, and caiparinhas, the Brazilian version of mojitos I'd say (@Ines and @MrMiamism - stay tuned for my video on how to concoct the perfect caiparinha...my opinion of course - perhaps it will compete favorably with your mojito video).

And San Diego is becoming a place where you can find more than a taste of Brazil.

There was a terrific concert yesterday at the Encinitas Library (and more are planned) overlooking the ocean featuring 3 sets of Brazilian jazz by a mix of musicians, some Brazilian, some not, but all lovers of this wonderful, sultry music style that grabs your heart, and somehow steals you away to a place you never knew existed.

The theme?

A tribute to music by Brazilian composer and guitarist Chico Pinheiro.

The artists?

A talented group of upcoming and established artists - Kamau Kenyatta, Russell Bizzett, Louisa West, Allison Adams Tucker, Danny Green, Evona Wascinski, Dylan Savage, Chad Farran, Fabio Oliveira, Scooter Oyama, Sky Ladd, Grant Clarkson, Jimmy Patton, Steve Haney, and JP Dietrich. It turned out to be 2 ½ hours of amazing Brazilian music.

I am familiar with lots of Brazilian musicians, composers and vocalists, but Pinheiro is a new one for me, but someone I will now pay attention to. You can learn more about him here. Or listen in on Itunes here. What was particularly fun was that this was not music that is mainstream, such as that of Jobim and Gilberto, which you hear so often in so many different versions.

Next weekend on November 30 (yes, you can take advantage of Black Friday and get your holiday shopping done first) at The Belly-Up in Solana Beach you can enjoy Brazilian Carnaval Ensaio, a fabulous pre-carnival party where you can learn the samba and enjoy all the music that Brazil is so famous for - samba, batucada, samba-reggae, maracatu and axé.

The party features Janganda, a 7-piece band tuned into the rhythms and sounds of Brazil. This is a prelude to the popular (and 17^th annual) San Diego Carnival and Mardigras Ball on Saturday, February 21^st at the well-known 4^th and B Club (their website is under development) in the Gaslamp District.

Want to listen to Brazilian radio? You can listen here.

How about a few Brazilian restaurants? Carlsbad has the Brazilian Samba Steakhouse, and Rei Do Gado is in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.

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