Samba in America is often associated with a certain chill-out vibe, and that’s sometimes accurate.
Guitarist Gilvan de Oliveira, whose trio (with bassist Ivan Correa da Costa and percussionist Sergio Antonio Silva) returns to Hartford for this year’s Samba Fest, offers fire-breathing virtuosity and a left-brained, contrapuntal approach; he’s capable of sounding like several instruments at once, whether covering Western pop songs (there’s staggering footage of de Oliveira playing “Eleanor Rigby” on YouTube), layering melodies over drones (check out “Beira Mar Novo,” from his 2002 recording “Violao Caipira”) or building stately, Baroque-inspired dances (the waltz-time “Tirana da Partida,” for example).
In keeping with its usual sampling of Brazilian, West Indian and American musical groups, Samba Fest 2017 hosts Honduran singer Karlibeth Ortega; Newington’s José Paulo performing with the Trinity Samba Ensemble (directed by Samba Fest founder Eric Galm); the Trinity Steel Band; dance troupe Ginga Brasileira; funky marching band The Hartford Hot Several; The Bossa Nova Project, founded by singer-songwriter Isabella Mendes; and West Hartford’s Hall High School choirs.
Samba Fest 2017 takes place on the Trinity College campus, 240 New Britain Ave., Hartford, May 6, beginning at 11 a.m. Admission is free. 860-297-2199 or trincoll.edu.
