Paulão Sakae Tahira

Respected Brazilian DJ and music researcher DJ Paulão gives Spannered a sniff of his sprawling record collection When it comes to digging up lost Brazilian classics, Paulo Sakae Tahira is something of an archaeologist. A full-time researcher of música brasileira from the second half of the 20th century, Paulão (that's 'Big Paul', to non-Portuguese speakers) isn't, thankfully, the kind of vinyl addict who keeps his prized finds hidden away under lock and key; his DJ performances have taken him all over Brazil, and as far afield as France, Spain and Switzerland. Hailing from the concrete jungle of São Paulo, Paulão moved to the nearby city of Campinas in the early nineties, where he developed both his skills as a DJ and his reputation as a discerning connoisseur of his country's music (with particular focus to the 60s and 70s). There he helped to establish Rádio Muda, a terrestrial radio project to which he still contributes. Together with friends, he was responsible for bringing big name acts to Campinas during the nineties with a series of seminal parties, Festas Black. In the years since, Paulão has been involved in promoting various other events, and has played alongside many of the country's best-known artists. He also writes for the excellent Brazilian music site Gafieiras. Now based back in São Paulo, Paulão is currently finalising details of his second European tour (you can find out where and when to catch him by visiting his site). His scope as a record selector extends far beyond the shores of Brazil, to Afrobeat, New Orleans jazz and various other strains of Black music and rare groove, but if you want a taste of real deal Brazilian hot stuff, check this out...