Moacyr Luz sings to the birds

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Moacyr Luz, a.k.a. Môa. I must admit, I have been attending his sambas for months (actually a couple of years) and I never approached him because I thought that he might not be so friendly. I can't exactly explain why I would have thought this. I couldn't have been more wrong... I (finally) met him last night at Samba Luzia, the weekly samba that he hosts, and he immediately invited me to come to Santa Teresa, where he lives, to do the interview the next day. I was skeptical that he would be awake at noon the next day, since the samba the night before went until well past 4am... So, this morning I called him around 11 to check in. He asked me to come to Bar do Mineiro, where he is well known among the locals and is a regular fixture. I arrived somewhat later than I had hoped, and Môa was dutifully sitting at a table with two friends, drinking beer. I joined them and he immediately called for a glass and a fresh bottle, the pre-penultimate beer of the afternoon. Then we went to his apartment right across the street.

Moacyr is considered to be one of the most talented composers of his generation. He has written hundreds of songs with many partners including Aldir Blanc (João Bosco's long-time partner in the 1970s), Martinho da Vila, Zeca Pagodinho, among others [Listen to a 1976 song by Bosco/Blanc in the past post here and one from 1972 by Martinho da Vila here]. He has recorded and/or produced dozens of records, and he hosts two of the hottest sambas in town: Samba do Trabalhador (The Worker's Samba, which happens on Monday afternoons) and Samba Luzia. More to come on these sambas soon!



I wanted to share one of my favorite songs by Môa. The following song is "Zuela de Oxum" from his 2003 album Samba da Cidade.



After the interview, which lasted about 50 minutes and 3 or 4 beers, Môa grabbed the guitar to sing his latest composition with Martinho da Vila, which will be recorded this year and released on his next album. I was sweetly surprised by the song he played. Not for the fact that Môa would produce such a lovely samba, but for the fact that he was so eager to share one of his inéditas, or unrecorded, tunes. He sang this wonderful song, imitating Martinho da Vila's characteristic drawl... It is tentatively titled "Samba dos passarinhos" (Samba of the birds).



"Um samba simples, mas essa coisa simples é que é muito complicado..." (Moacyr Luz)

Môa is good people...