Brazil has a wide variety of musical styles, plus they run mob deep. My all time favorite is classic Milton Nascimento, but there are bunches of others whom I really dig, including Gilberto Gil and Paula Lima. But right now I want to focus on Luciana Mello, with a tip of the hat to her father, Jair Rodrigues, who is a noted performer in his own right, and to her brother, Jair Oliveira, who is both a contemporary musical colleague and a popular professional. In various combinations they often perform together.

Born January 22, 1979, in São Paulo, Luciana has both a contemporary and a traditional sound that is arresting as exemplified by one of her big hits, “Simples Desejo”, which she does both as a samba and also in what we would call a quasi-hip hop style.

What I find especially interesting is how easily she moves between different disciplines. She has done popular music with the verve of a teenager dancing and obviously excited about the opportunity to become a pop star. But she also expertly explores the traditional “roda” (assembly in a circle doing music and dance) with a focus on old and new songs in the samba tradition.

Apropos of the sociology of music, Luciana is a strong example of women who could easily pass into the mainstream based on looks, but who instead choose to be culture bearers. Look at her un-straightened hair. She chooses a big natural or braids, and does not present herself as a sex symbol on stage. These are conscious decisions that often run counter to establishment modes of success. She may never become a mega star with a massive fan base, but she will always live in the hearts of her people because she stays rooted in the culture and consciousness of folk from around the way.