In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it can be easy to forget how to have a good time – but the Brazilian sounds of the group Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso should bring some fun to St.Francisville Wednesday night.
The Brazilian choro band will perform at 7 p.m. at the Hemingbough in St. Francisville. All proceeds from the concert will go to the West Feliciana Community Foundation’s Katrina Relief Fund.
Marshall, who has been performing for 30 years, said that choro is an early form of Brazilian jazz that uses the mandolin, clarinet, guitar and percussion.
“The style goes back to when Europeans came to Brazil from Europe,” Marshall said. “It’s very similar to New Orleans jazz and especially similar to ragtime.”
Marshall said that choro is a rich, complex style of Brazilian music.
“I’ve really seen this connection with New Orleans and Brazil in that the two are so inextricably linked musically and culturally,” Marshall said.
The event was originally going to be held at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center downtown, said Denis Brown, committee member for the benefit.
“It just didn’t work out after the hurricane, but the benefit kind of happened by chance and good fortune,” Brown said.
Marshall said he suggested to turn the event into a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina victims.
“All of the proceeds are going to the Katrina Relief Fund and they are going to be used to buy food for the displaced persons living in West Feliciana Parish,” said Ashley Fox-Smith, University graduate and benefit committee member.
West Feliciana Parish has about 500 displaced people living in its towns as refugees, Fox-Smith said.
“At West Feliciana Parish, they’re feeding [the refugees] three meals a day, and the money for that can run out quickly,” Brown said.
The event will take place in Hemingbough, an outdoor amphitheater that overlooks a lake and can seat about 800 people, Fox-Smith said.
“The people at Hemingbough are letting us use the venue for free, and tickets are $10,” Fox-Smith said.
The band also plans to perform informally for shut-ins and hurricane victims throughout the area on Wednesday and Thursday, Marshall said.
“The event is going to be well-attended,” Fox-Smith said. “I’m really optimistic.”
Marshall said his audiences are usually diverse, and people who like bluegrass, jazz or world music would enjoy the event.
“If Brazilians show, they’ll dance; the Americans will sit on their butts,” Marshall said. “It can be appreciated on an intellectual level, but it originally was a dance form.”
Contact Julie Chance at [email protected]