Digital Couch

Who needs TV when you can create your own entertainment !? !?

This is a link to the blog I have set up as Remko had suggested. It's not only Samba but MODERN Brazilian ( and Portuguese ) music as well , from my perspective. My own archive of this fascinating culture . . . . as I rummage through the internet .

I don't know why I want to do this. . . . May be the fear of being banished from the Brisamba Blog ?

I'll post some more interesting video clips as I go. Any suggested musicians are welcome . Like to discover new unknown good musicians.

Andreia Dias - Seu Retrato

Interesting Cuica playing.

Try this

Try this

Brian has missed this one!

No class NEXT week 23 July

I'm not available next week so unfortunately will have to cancel the class on Thursday 23 July. I look forward to seeing you all this week 16 July though.

PS: On Thursday, I'll have a little present for all of you that played at SunCorp!

Well done everybody!!!

Well done everybody today! It was a fantastic performance, as I expected it was much more powerful than during the rehearsal on Saturday, and I was really proud to see you guys play after all the other groups.

I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to speak with all of you following the event - it was a bit chaotic as you may have noticed.

I had an interesting perspective, being in the position to see each group perform up close, then watch all of you. Certainly you can all be proud of what is a great group of people.

Congratulations to all of you who had their first performance: parabens!

My best wishes go to Byron and Maria, both too sick to perform. I know you wanted to.... there will be a next time.

Also applause to Denis who switched group at the last minute to strengthen the numbers of the Middle East group that had been struck by swine flue.

Finally, thanks to Melanie and Dale for helping out with the Surdo transport!

This was the third year in a row that we played at "Queensland Roars against Racism", this must be a credit to the quality of what we do! So let's keep going!!!

QRAR: late change!!!

Firstly, thank you all for attending the rehearsal today, at the end it was really getting together. I'm sure all of you will be very impressive tomorrow!!!

There has been a late change for the performers welcome tomorrow. The time is still 3.25pm, but you now have to be on the northern side of the stadium (Caxton street side), on the grass area to the right of the path to the stadium entrance! See you there!

Further details QRAR

Rehearsal - tomorrow Saturday 11 July 3pm

• Location: Sunnybank State High School oval. Best parking and access to the oval from Gager Street
• I will need a few of you to take the place of the Aboriginal group, who are not able to attend the rehearsal. I suggest all tamborim players!
  

Performance - Sunday 11 July

• Melanie and Dale - car arrangements will be announced during the rehearsal tomorrow. They have changed from what I announced yesterday.
  
• Everyone else: please be outside the Suncorp Stadium boom gate closest to Cordova Street no later than 3.25pm. If you miss this time you will NOT be able to enter the stadium!
  
• Unfortunately, there will be no dressing rooms available inside, so everyone will need to come in their costume, carrying their own drum (except for surdo players).
• Costume: white pants, Mangueira shirt. No high heels (not even Denis)!
• If people need parking, the Polish Club has allowed us to park on their parking, preferably on the lower area. It's about a 15-20 minutes walk to the stadium.
• It will all be over by 4.15pm, the performance is about 3.59pm
  

Important note: for both the rehearsal and the performance, please be on time. We have extremely tight schedules. Thank you!

Cheeky Forro Dancers

Never mind Tom Ze's good music, keep a watchful eye on the cheeky and playful dancers. Sorry Remko, can't sleep after Samba tonight.

Note: Don't go to the "Josenid.blogspot.com" the video is too small. Stay in google and click the image on your left .

Queensland Roars agains Racism - rehearsals

With only 4 days to go there's still a lot of work to do regarding our performance this Sunday:

• At tomorrow's rehearsal we'll again spend some time rehearsing 'Recordar'. Can I ask everyone to please be on time as some people will need to leave early tomorrow.
• We'll have another rehearsal, this time with ALL performers. This will be this Saturday, 3pm at Sunnybank State Highschool oval (some of you have been here before!). I hope everyone can make it to this one.

Another couple of points regarding these rehearsals:

• Some members haven't attended last Thursday and Sunday's rehearsals. As the arrangement is not trivial, and we won't be able to 'wing it', I like everyone to attend both rehearsals
• I was a little bit embarrassed on Sunday when half of the Samba School rocked up over 15 minutes late. On Saturday we'll rehearse with 120 performers so please be on time, preferably even early.

I will post details about the Sunday logistics in the next few days, still things to sort out...

Cheers

Remko

kuduro

I find the "mutant" steps quite fascinating with the dangling arms. Haven't seen in it catch on in the US yet.

Kuduro dance

These kids , from Angola, copy Remko's dance style and move a notch higher. Quite big in Angola and immigrants in Portugal. Wonder what the Brazilian kids can do ?

Naná Vasconcelos and Maracatu

Have you guys seen this clip yet ?

Extra rehearsal this Sunday

Thank you for the overwhelming response for playing at Queensland Roars against Racism on Sunday 12 July at SunCorp stadium. We currently have over 110 percussionists confirmed from 7 groups (Brazil, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Burundi, China, Cook Islands, Aboriginal).

Note there will be two rehearsals:

• This Sunday 5 July 3pm at the Polish Club
• Saturday 11 July (the day before the performance), time/location to be confirmed but likely to be at Ballymore stadium.

We'll also practice some breaks tonight at our regular rehearsal but this is part of what we do normally anyway.

Shaker with attitude

Two minutes into the performance, watch out for the Japanese female shaker on the left .

Volunteers wanted

If you have a little bit of time left and want to do something extra for the samba school, I could do with a couple of volunteers for the following tasks:

• Collect/make photos of all current members (in action!), as well as some further information like 'date of joining', 'a short paragraph about yourself' and 'favorite instrument'. This information will then be uploaded to a new 'who is who' page on the members area of the brisamba.com website. We have so many people now so it will make it easier for new members to learn who is who.
  
• Investigate new surdo straps. This job is probably best for a surdo player. Investigate what kind of strap is best, where to get them from, what price, or do we need to make something ourselves or get some made for us.

Please email me or post a comment if you would like to help with either task. Thank you!

João Rabello – An Experience In Six Strings

The guitar is central to the Brazilian musical experience. From great composers like Villa-Lobos, to folk forms like samba and bossa-nova, the guitar has played a pivotal role in unifying "high" and "low" music. In a country as large as Brazil, with such a rich musical heritage this means a lot. The guitar became popular there even before emerging as a concert instrument in Europe in the 20th century.

João Rabello has been described as a member of Brazil's elite register of musicians; little surprise when he can claim legendary guitar players on both sides of his family going back four generations. An Experience In Six Strings is João Rabello's tour through the universe of the Brazilian guitar. From the traditional to the vanguard, from the north to the south, this repertoire is for those who wish to hear a small piece of a long history carried in six strings.

• Fri 17 July 8pm
• The Tivoli
• Tickets: Full $39 Conc $29
• Bookings: 132 849 or www.qmf.org.au

Barbatuques: Baiana

This is an interesting Brazilian body percussion group

Gail's holiday party

(posted on Gail's behalf)

Why: Come and celebrate with a night of European food with ME before we leave.

When: From 7-ish onwards, Saturday 27 June

Where: 18 Neata Street, Corinda (0407 583 452)

Wear any of your favourite holiday gear (the more German, French, Irish, Spanish, Italian and/or English the better)

BYO drinks

Suncorp stadium gig - registration open!

As you probably know, we have been invited to play at Queensland Roars against Racism again on Sunday afternoon 12 July. This will be for about 55,000 visitors, a full house!

I'd like as many people as possible to play that day, we're working together with other groups as well so it's going to be something really really special.

Please let me know by email if you want to be there (and why wouldn't you!).

One thing, unfortunately it is extremely unlikely this year that we'll get tickets to see the game itself. Mind you, we would have to prepare anyway during the first half, however I think some of you may still be disappointed. Sorry, this is very much outside my control.

Cheers

Remko