CLUBE DO CHORO with REGIONAL SAMAUMA
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
At Barbès, Fernanda Silveira leads Clube do Choro, a weekly front-room choro jam with Regional Samaúma and special guests. The afternoon is presented as a relaxed session built around high-level players, with room for the repertoire and the guest musicians to shape the set. Silveira, a cavaquinho player devoted to Brazilian choro and traditional samba, leads the gathering rather than a fixed concert program.
Regional Samaúma is a New York-based choro ensemble founded by three Brazilian musicians: Silveira, percussionist Fabio Oliveira, and guitarist Vitor Sampaio. Their repertoire reaches from nineteenth-century choro by Ernesto Nazareth, Chiquinha Gonzaga, and Mário Alves through Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim to music by Luciana Rabello and Maurício Carrilho. Lincoln Center has described the group as bringing “the spirit of a Rio de Janeiro backyard samba circle” to life. Silveira has accompanied Maurício Carrilho, Yamandu Costa, Zé Barbeiro, Nailor Proveta, Pedro Amorim, Miltinho Mori, Ronaldo do Bandolim, and Jorginho do Pandeiro; Oliveira has worked with Diogo Nogueira and Lenine and recorded with Leila Pinheiro, Nelson Faria, and João Bosco.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.