Standing behind his stall, Luizinho teaches the customer that “the cravo (clove) is an interesting instrument, little known in our culture. It’s beautiful, a true painting!” His enthusiasm arouses the curiosity of the person, who orders a vodka, lemon, and sugar caipirinha, then adds, extending his hand to pay, “Charge me for the drink and a CD of the guy who plays the cravo.” The owner of the “tavern” at Praça São Salvador in Laranjeiras gets excited: “Excellent! You’re going to love the sound! It’s better to spend money on music than on therapy.” Luizinho doesn’t need a therapist. He’s happy like this, working among CDs, customers interested in good music, samba friends, and bottles of cachaça from Minas Gerais. His life as a street vendor began when Luiz Antonio Mandarino had a little more hair and was undecided about what to do with his life. In the 90s, at the suggestion of his father-in-law Eliomar Coelho, the current city councilor, he became responsible for the caipirinhas at campaign events. “People started calling me for other events,” he recalls. Among them was the samba circle at Clube Lagoinha in Santa Teresa, the neighborhood where he was born, grew up, and still lives. With famous singers in the circle, the idea of selling their CDs was born: “They left their CDs at my stall. But I only sell what I like.” Today, he is present at both craft markets in Laranjeiras. In both, Luizinho warms up the atmosphere before the choro circle. Not only by serving drinks, but also by providing the “ambient sound.” “My thing is samba and choro. I take pleasure in saying that I’m friends with Aldir Blanc, Carlos Malta, Zé da Velha, Silvério Pontes…” he says.