The roots samba groups play samba as it's been done since the 1930s, and that means there's usually a crisp chordal rhythm provided by the high-pitched, ukulele-like four-string cavaquinho, and then scampering single-note runs from the acoustic guitar. Of course, many of the musicians who play in smaller groups are part of a big samba school as well - as a result, some of these ensembles have a zinging, supercharged energy. There is nothing like the thundering clap-clap-clap sounds made by 250 or more drummers, of course, but when the scale is reduced, it's possible to hear more of the nuances of the rhythm, and how the individual instruments fit together and interact. In his group and others, the crucial distinguishing characteristic is obviously size - if the samba schools are symphony orchestras, these roots samba groups are like string quartets. I caught him in several different groups, in a tiny bar in the Lapa nightclub district of Rio, and when I interviewed him later, he explained that he believes playing in clubs is an act of "cultural resistance" because so much of samba culture in Rio is geared to tourists. Ivan Milanez is one of the elders of what might be described as a growing "roots samba" movement. In the Sambadrome, you simply watch on the street, there's no show biz. Nobody is standing still, however the throngs are usually dancing and singing along. If you see a random cluster of people and hear drumming, there's usually samba going on. The audience stands surrounding the table, often completely encircling the musicians. This goes by various names - samba de roda (samba wheel) is the most common term, but it's also known as "samba popular" or "roots samba." It involves as few as five or six musicians, sitting around facing each other at what looks like a conference room table, playing cherished samba hits from years past as well as original compositions. There's a parallel samba universe that goes on all year long, on neighborhood streets and small clubs and little kiosks by the beach. That's the tourist version of samba, and it only represents a small slice of an incredible thriving music culture. Music News From Recife, Brazil, 3 Rhythms Get The Carnival Party Started
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |