Northeastern Brazilian Music

Northeastern Brazilian music gathers the traditions of Brazil's Nordeste: the forró complex of baião, xote and xaxado led by accordion, zabumba and triangle; Pernambuco's frevo and maracatu; Ceará's improvised cantoria; and the singer-songwriter generation the region gave Brazilian popular music. Forged by *Luiz Gonzaga*, the 'King of Baião', and *Jackson do Pandeiro*, and renewed by *Hermeto Pascoal*, *Belchior*, *Alceu Valença*, *Elba Ramalho* and *Zé Ramalho*, it carries the sertão's droughts, migrations and festivals in a strongly regional voice that has repeatedly reshaped national culture.