Learn to Play Inside an Authentic Brazilian Rhythm Section
Inside the Brazilian Rhythm Section by Nelson Faria and Cliff Korman is the first comprehensive book and audio package designed to let bassists, guitarists, pianists, and drummers step directly inside a master Brazilian rhythm section.
If you’ve ever tried to learn samba or bossa nova from lead sheets alone, you know something is missing. Brazilian music lives in the interaction — the subtle push and pull between bass, guitar, piano, drums, and percussion. This book gives you that interaction in real time.
The book provides:
• Complete charts for every track
• Transcribed sample parts for each instrument
• Stylistic breakdowns drawn directly from the recordings
• Clear guidance for both accompaniment and soloing
You’ll study and play along with eight essential Brazilian styles:
Samba • Bossa Nova • Partido-Alto • Choro • Baião • Frevo • Marcha-Rancho• Afoxé
This is not a surface-level overview. It’s the most comprehensive working musician’s guide to how Brazilian rhythm sections actually function.
Includes a two play-along CD download featuring:
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Nelson Faria — guitar (author of The Brazilian Guitar Book)
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Cliff Korman — piano (NY/Brazil recording artist)
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Paulo Braga — drums (drummer with Antonio Carlos Jobim)
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David Finck — acoustic bass (NY Jazz & Brazilian recording artist)
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Itaiguara Brandao — electric bass (NY/Brazil recording artist)
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Café — percussion (Brazil's best-known percussionist)
Together, they create the authentic feel that no metronome or drum machine can replicate.
For players at all levels, this book provides practical immersion into Brazilian groove, phrasing, and ensemble balance — helping you develop stylistic fluency that translates directly to the bandstand.
Spiral-bound, 120 pages, Table of Contents.
Includes two full-length play-along CD downloads, available on our Audio Downloads page.
Sample Pages: Samba, Bossa Nova
Sample Song:
Endorsements:
“This book makes me want to pick up my bass and play! It's a great method to learn and practice Brazilian rhythms and an outstanding contribution to music instruction. We've needed this for a long time!”
— John Patitucci
“This book is a marvel that shows you what it takes to achieve those wonderful grooves on the samba, bossa nova and other Brazilian rhythms. It is a must for any serious student of Brazilian music.”
— Kenny Barron
“I love the way this book is organized. It gives me the information I need and gets right to the music.”
— Lincoln Goines
“This book will put a stop to our searching for authentic Brazilian rhythms. And the play-along audio tracks are pure serendipity.”
— Manny Albam
Cliff Korman, New York-trained pianist, has spent more than three decades deeply immersed in Brazilian music, including extensive collaboration with clarinetist Paulo Moura. Their recordings and projects explore the rich intersection between American jazz and Brazilian tradition, making him uniquely qualified to present this material with both authenticity and clarity.
Nelson Faria is one of Brazil’s foremost guitarists and educators, known for his deep mastery of Brazilian styles and his ability to bridge traditional and modern approaches. A prolific recording artist and author of The Brazilian Guitar Book, he has worked extensively with leading figures in Brazilian music and continues to shape the next generation of players.
