Jaquinho Morelenbaum

Day one, session one, Jaquinho Morelenbaum who is Caetano Veloso’s cellist and arranger. His pad up in the hills above the city is an ultra modern, open plan affair of cream and concrete designed by his father-in-law. The balcony looks over Rio and you can even see Jesus up there, like all fisherman, lying about the one that got away.

We set up inside as it was still pouring, and he sat regally astride his cello like a man who’s used to commanding whoever’s around him. The moment he touched his bow to the strings it was clear why. After the session Duncan stated that he was the best musician we’d ever worked with, and the way we were all swooning and making silent staring and nodding communications to each other during each take, it was obvious to him how blown away we all were.

I always loved the cello. Now I want to make whole albums of it.

Tomorrow we’re venturing into the Flavella, the slum districts of Rio for a huge Samba group. If it keeps raining like this I don’t know what we’ll do. Duncan said that last time he was here in December it rained for 19 days straight. This is not how I imagined Rio would be. Anyone?