Brazilian music is often reduced to its flashiest exports: the gentle sway of bossa nova or carnival feathers and the pulse of samba echoing through the winding streets of Rio de Janeiro. But when Brazil Beyond Samba takes the stage at Stissing Center on Saturday night, the five-piece ensemble will offer something far more expansive — a sweeping, deeply personal musical journey across the country’s diverse rhythms and regions.
“You’re going to come out thinking it’s going to be like a bossa nova show,” vocalist Caro Pierotto told the Herald. “No — it’s the opposite. It’s a trip.”
Formed in 2019, Brazil Beyond Samba is a genre-defying ensemble that merges Pierotto’s solo work with Farofa, an instrumental quartet rooted in Brazilian traditions. Together, the five-member group performs a mix of original compositions, reimagined English-language songs, and Brazilian standards — all grounded in regional rhythms that remain largely unfamiliar to U.S. audiences.
“We like to think of it as a trip that lets you visit all these different Brazilian regions,” Pierotto said. “We talk about what region it is and what the rhythm is called. You really get to taste a little bit of all those different places.”
The collaboration grew out of Pierotto’s long-running musical partnership with percussionist Felipe Fraga, who co-founded Farofa in Los Angeles after relocating from Chicago over a decade ago. The two were introduced by a mutual friend. “At the time I was looking for a new drummer to collaborate with,” Pierotto recalled. “And I reached out to him. We’ve been playing together ever since.”
Though both artists were born in Brazil’s southern states — Pierotto in Paraná, Fraga in neighboring Rio Grande do Sul — their aim was never to represent a single region. “Each state, each region, it’s almost like a different country,” Pierotto said. “If you think of Europe, Brazil is like a whole continent too.”
The ensemble’s lineup reflects that breadth. Most members are Brazilian, though violinist Ted Falcon — originally from New York — spent a decade immersed in Brazilian choro groups. Others travel in from across the U.S. and Brazil for performances. The musical language is global, but the foundation is unmistakably Brazilian.
Even Farofa’s name gestures toward that blend of tradition and community. In Brazil, Farofa is a toasted cassava flour dish often served as a side — but the term can also mean a gathering. “Like if you go to the beach with friends and everybody brings something — ‘Let’s do a farofa at the beach,’” Fraga said.
Saturday’s gathering at Stissing Center will feature both instrumental numbers and songs sung by Pierotto in Portuguese and English. “The guys really know how to drive the energy of the show through the drums, through the guitar solos, through the violin,” Pierotto said. “And I just come on top because they are already really electrifying in their own playing.”
This weekend marks Pierotto’s second visit to Pine Plains. Her last appearance at Stissing Center, in 2019, was a smaller-scale performance. This time, joining forces with Farofa to form Brazil Beyond Samba, she returns with a more expansive sound — and a clearer mission to broaden what American audiences expect from Brazilian music.
That includes lesser-known rhythms — and a different kind of emotional depth. “I think Brazilian music gets reduced to the Carnival girls, the dancers and the feathers,” Pierotto said. “Way too much, in my opinion. So we just want to educate — to show that there are all these other colors.”
At the heart of the performance is a belief that music can transcend language and stereotype.
“You don’t need to understand the lyrics,” Pierotto said. “It’s not about the brain — it just goes straight into the heart.”
Fraga agreed. “Even if the language is not your language, it’s still possible to connect,” he said. “That’s the great thing about music — how you can be amazed by a performance even if you don’t understand what they’re saying.”
As Pierotto put it: “This show is a gathering of life paths. Somehow destiny brought us together to share music at this moment. And I think that’s a very magical ingredient.”
Brazil Beyond Samba performs at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Stissing Center in Pine Plains.
Tickets and information: stissingcenter.org
Patrick,
Your article led me to go see (hear) the Brazilian musicians. It was an excellent show.
Ms. Greene, President of the Stissing Center read from you article at the start of the show.
I recently moved to the area and much appreciate you opening my eyes to what’s happening around town.
Thanks.
Anthony,
Welcome to the area and thank you for your readership! Feel free to reach out at editor@newpineplainsherald.org should you ever have any inquiries, story ideas, or feedback you’d like to share!
Many thanks,
Patrick Grego, Editor