Why I Keep Hearing about Curitiba, Brazil

As someone who has long practiced martial arts, I used to watch mixed-martial arts (MMA) competitions; as a consequence, I am very familiar with the words "Curitiba, Brazil". This is because many a famous mixed-martial artist "hails from" (as the announcer says) this city. Over the years, the phrase "Curitiba, Brazil" has become so familiar that if someone across a noisy room were to say "Curitiba, Brazil," my ears would instantly perk up—as if they had said my very name.

Curitiba, Brazil.

My favourite MMA star of all time is Anderson Silva, who hails from...

Curitiba, Brazil.

I've even found that saying these words out loud is satisfying—and I encourage you to try it right now (in your best announcer's voice):

"Curitiba, Brazil."

A few years ago I decided to become a harmonica hero. I was lamenting the fact that I had failed to become a guitar hero (I have a tendon issue in my fretting hand that affects one thing and one thing only: guitar). I was listening to a song by Blues Traveler, a band I used to love but had forgotten about, when it occurred to me that the harmonica is a beautifully expressive instrument that one can—if one is sufficiently adept—shred like a guitar. If you don't believe me, check out "Run-Around" or any other song from their album four.

So I went on YouTube and looked for harmonica heroes and came across Amanda Ventura's cover of "House of the Rising Sun". I was amazed. Her expressiveness, tone, and cool, made me think of B.B. King. So I went out and bought a Hohner Special 20 harmonica and signed up for prerecorded lessons from an online music school. The lessons are great, and I've been playing for around two years now. But, unfortunately, they're not interactive.

Meanwhile, I kept going back to YouTube to play along to Amanda Ventura's latest video. And each time I was amazed (and continue to be) by how good she sounds. About a month ago I was practicing along to her cool version of "Hit the Road, Jack" and decided to record myself. But when I played it back I was astounded—and not in a good way. It was like hearing a recording one's own voice played back for the first time. Do I really sound like that??? Well, I thought, maybe, it's just my cheap microphone!

Whatever the case, enough was enough. I emailed her to inquire about much needed private lessons. She agreed, and we promptly had our first lesson via Google Meet. She immediately pinpointed four things that I can work on to improve my tone (but for some reason she didn't mention the microphone...)—and sure enough, I've already improved, significantly.

During that first lesson I asked where she's from. And she replied with those famous words:

Curitiba, Brazil.

"Oh," I replied, "I know it!" And then she asked me if I'd heard of Indiara Sfair—another harmonica virtuoso. I had, in fact. In my new teacher's estimation, Indira Sfair is the best harmonica player in the world. And, she told me (as you've already guessed), that Indira Sfair also hails from [I'll let you say it in your best announcer's voice.]

Just the other week I was training at the gymnastics gym and saw a new guy wearing a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) t-shirt. I asked him if he practiced BJJ and he said he did. He then told me he had just returned from a trip to Brazil. I asked him what he was doing there, and it turns out he was born and raised in Brazil. I said, "Ah, my harmonica teacher is from Curitiba!"

And I kid you not. I should have known which city he hails from. There is no question that I need to go there, some day—to the city whose name I keep hearing about; to the city that, if you had not kept hearing about before, you now do, too.

Curitiba,

Brazil.