BRAZIL STUDY TOUR
In 2019 I travelled to Brazil with a few fellow percussionists to continue our study of Maracatu - an Afro-Brazilian drumming tradition from Brazil's North-East.
We based ourselves for four weeks in the city of Recife leading up to that years' carnaval - where the maracatu groups (referred to as nações meaning nations)
traditionally compete. We immersed ourselves in the culture, religion and traditions of the communities and trained daily to eventually compete in the carnaval with the
Nação do Maracatu Porto Rico. I also took lessons in a drum particular to that region called Ilú and we visited some other nações in
Recife and in Rio and were lucky enough to join Tambores de Olokun for a beautiful performance.
We based ourselves for four weeks in the city of Recife leading up to that years' carnaval - where the maracatu groups (referred to as nações meaning nations)
traditionally compete. We immersed ourselves in the culture, religion and traditions of the communities and trained daily to eventually compete in the carnaval with the
Nação do Maracatu Porto Rico. I also took lessons in a drum particular to that region called Ilú and we visited some other nações in
Recife and in Rio and were lucky enough to join Tambores de Olokun for a beautiful performance.
One of our most memorable rehearsals in the pouring rain!
An amazing moment before we started our official caranaval parade!
