Events

We are very pleased to be hosting a maracatu workshop by Scott Kettner, the founder and director of both Maracatu New York and Nation Beat. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn more about maracatu, especially in the style of Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante do Recife, one of the oldest and most respected groups in Pernambuco.

This is the second part of "O Corpo Brincante" (the playful body), a rare one day North-Eastern Brazilian drum and dance workshop on Sunday March 9th, from 11:00am to 2:30pm at the FICA studio, 2513 Magnolia St. in West Oakland. $20 per class (at the door), $15 if you signup in advance, or $30 for both classes.

Regular Bateria Lucha workshop where you'll learn maracatu, afoxe/ijexa, and other rhythms from Brazil (especially the north-eastern state of Pernambuco).

The first hour is an intermediate/advanced workshop (everyone is welcome and encouraged to come watch if they're new, but active participation is by invitation). We'll mostly be rehearsing as Maracatu Luta for our upcoming gig at the Great American Music Hall.

The second hour is a class open to all levels (though more experienced participants are always invited to stay and work on instruments they don't usually play, and/or to help teach newer people).

$12 for the workshop (or $10 if you buy a "card" for multiple classes at the studio). No one turned away for lack of funds.

Regular Bateria Lucha workshop where you'll learn maracatu, afoxe/ijexa, and other rhythms from Brazil (especially the north-eastern state of Pernambuco).

The first hour is an intermediate/advanced workshop (everyone is welcome and encouraged to come watch if they're new, but active participation is by invitation). We'll mostly be rehearsing as Maracatu Luta for our upcoming gig at the Great American Music Hall.

The second hour is a class open to all levels (though more experienced participants are always invited to stay and work on instruments they don't usually play, and/or to help teach newer people).

$12 for the workshop (or $10 if you buy a "card" for multiple classes at the studio). No one turned away for lack of funds.

Given our upcoming gig at the Great American Music Hall, we're going to turn this entire night into a rehearsal for Maracatu Luta. Anyone's still welcome to come watch, but only the folks on the gig will be able to play, since we're going to need to really focus on that. Thanks for your understanding.

Due to continued trouble getting into our "real" rehearsal space, we'll be rehearsing at Hadley's House. If you're logged into the site you'll be able to click the link for his address and directions. Thanks, Hadley!

We are very honored to have brought maracatu to the Great American Music Hall (for perhaps the first time ever). In addition, this event was be the launch of Maracatu Luta, a new performing group comprised of the more experienced and long-term members of Bateria Lucha which will be specifically focused on maracatu and related rhythms and styles.

We're thrilled to have performed between sets at the CD release party for Lo Cura, a wonderful Bay Area band that's blending flamenco and reggae. We played for a sold-out house, at the peak of the evening between Lo Cura's fantastic set and the performance by Aphrodesia.

The dance floor was packed (we could barely fit onto the floor when we marched out), and the response was fantastic. I made an audio recording of our set. The sound quality isn't ideal since I just placed the recorder off to the side of the stage and didn't have any way to check on it during the set. It definitely sounds a little weird during the first number as we're marching past the thing out onto the front of the dance floor, but it should give you some idea what we sounded like. We played 5 pieces:

Regular Bateria Lucha / Maracatu Luta workshop where you'll learn maracatu, afoxe/ijexa, and other rhythms from Brazil (especially the north-eastern state of Pernambuco) and around the world.

The first hour is an intermediate/advanced workshop (everyone is welcome and encouraged to come watch if they're new, but active participation is by invitation). The second hour is a "beginning" class open to all levels (though more experienced participants are always invited to stay and work on instruments they don't usually play, and/or to help teach newer people).

Tonight's workshop will have to be held in Mosswood Park, since things at the Buena Vida Dance Club are pretty up in the air. Stay tuned for details on next week's location.