Gentle Weep

Gentle Weep was formed in Toronto by three Brazilian musicians who share a passion for “rodas de choro,” informal musical gatherings where musicians play a musical genre called “choro,” often around a table full of food and drinks. The name “choro”–which means weep in Portuguese–is attributed to the overly sentimental way popular musicians in 19th century Rio de Janeiro would interpret melodies brought from Europe, mixing them with indigenous and Afro-diasporic elements of their culture. In a “roda,” it’s expected that the musicians can accompany by ear whatever a singer or soloist throws at them, involving a lot of improvisation and leaving plenty of room for puns and jokes–musical and otherwise. 

The group was formed in mid-2023 and has played several venues in the city, such as the University of Toronto’s Hart House, Lula Lounge, Drom Taberna, and the Big Fam Sessions at Kensington Sound, always presenting music that, in its richness and rhythmic liveness, touches the heart, the body and the mind in equal proportions. Gentle Weep is thus a nod to the different cultures that gave birth to the joy of playing music and the varied music formed on the whole American continent.