Akin to U.S. ragtime and New Orleans jazz -- but with samba-based rhythms (!!) -- the charming, highly syncopated melodies of chôro first became popular in the cafés of Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s, and reached its zenith with artists like Ernesto Nazareth and Jacob do Bandolim. Leading the resurgence of chôro in the 21st century Bay Area is ChôroTime, a group of talented local musicians dedicated to the preservation and promotion of this wonderfully rich vein of music. Ron Galen leads the group on six- and seven-string guitars; ChôroTime also includes Jeff Sanford on clarinet, saxophone, and flute, Steve May on mandolin, Rick Elmore on trombone and percussion, Brian Rice on pandeiro (similar to a tambourine) and percussion, and Randy Johnson on cavaquinho (a plucked lute). If even a smidgeon of this group1s enthusiasm for chôro music is caught by the audience, a rollicking good time is sure to be had by all.