Johnson do Cavaco & Tchuguedinho

Created in 2009 by Johnson Bispo, former member of Patrulha do Samba, one of the most important bands in the Pagode scene in his hometown of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in the 90`s.

Pagode from Bahia is a style of music that mixes the traditional Samba-de-roda with the elements of the modern and electric music of the Carnaval and became very popular in the rest of Brazil. Originated by the african slaves brought to Brazil during the colonial period, traditions like Samba-de-roda , Capoeira and Candomble (tradional african religion) are still alive and part of the culture in Salvador.

Based in New York, Tchuguedinho current line-up consists of Johnson Bispo (vocal & cavaquinho) , Marcos Mourao (keyboard) , Gil Oliveira (drums) and guest percussionist Dende.

The band brings to the brazilian music scene of New York the groovy mix of Pagode from Bahia , Sambas and rhythms from Candomble and has performed in events such as the Brazilian day Celebration in Newark -NJ and the Beleza party at Le Poisson Rouge

Eliano Braz in March 2004, Bráz came to New York as a freelance musician in hopes of further exposing himself to new music and experiences. In the past six years Bráz has created his own group, Rabeca-do-Forró playing popular Brazilian music from the Northeastern region of the country. Bráz’s group fuses different kinds of music from all over Brazil and the world, and incorporates improvisations into their work. Bráz has played Brazilian music on the violin throughout all

DJ David Medina & DJ Alex Carioca

From 1995 to present, DJ David Medina has spun at private parties, lounges and clubs as far as Australia and Brazil. These include SOB’s, Cielo, Crash Mansion, Satalla, Village Underground, IL Pirata and El Rincon in San Francisco, Bembe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Baraza in the Lower East Side, NYC, Bar da Praia in Bahia, Brazil and Café de La Salsa in Sydney. From 1998 to 2004, he was the DJ at the legendary “Cubansoul” Wednesdays at Nell’s. Medina has been working with Havanarumba since 1999 and continues to DJ the parties first started at La Belle Epoque and No’ Moore and now at a number of clubs in NYC. DJ David Medina has also been the guest DJ for renowned bands such as Los Van Van (Hammerstein Ballroom 2001), Los Fakires (SOB’s 2002), Ricardo Lemvo (Satalla 2005), and many more. In addition he has opened for or alternated with a multitude of Latin American and New York based groups which include: Salsa Celtica from Scotland, Raices Habaneras, Tiempo Libre (Miami), La Timba Loca, Joseito Mateo from the Dominican Republic and salsa greats: Andy Montañez, Hector Casanova, Nelson Gonzalez, Jimmy Bosch, Alfredo de la Fe, Nicky Marrero and Pupi Lagarretta to name a few . He continues to be a guest DJ every summer at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing concert series.

Live percussion from JustinJustin “aka “Toca” and Ale Ale Drummers

Ale-Ale is a drumming/dance group that I created in 1999. Born out of New York Central Park’s Drum Circle, I met two amazing women drummers. Promoters started to ask us to play in night venues. A few months later we were on a big stage performing for a large audience.

The Ale-Ale Foundation is not just drummers but also Brazilian Samba Dancers & Capoeiristas. This is a conscious movement of artistic loving folks who support expression of all mediums.

Mariana Martins (TOYTOY!)

Mariana Martins is a brazilian artist from São Paulo, Brazil. In 2008 she started her own designer toy line with an artist collective called TOYTOY!

Mariana’s artwork consist of colorful digital graphic illustrations, acrylic oil painting on canvas and plush toys.

The artworks feature connections between the lines of illustration and elements of the children’s universe, adulthood and the culture of toy art that shows part of her brazilian culture in vivid colors.

Mariana has participated in severals exhibits throughout the world. Her work can been seen in collective art exhibits in New York, São Paulo (Brazil), Campinas (Brazil), Piracicaba (Brazil), Rio Claro (Brazil) and Lima (Peru).

Mariana currently studies illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Mariana Martins website
TOYTOY! website

Leticia Taylor

Leticia Taylor – Where Brazilian rhythm, American soul, and Latin flavor meet.

Leticia’s style has become an experience, a journey through the body into the soul of Brazilian rhythms. It’s a mix of Brazilian styles including bits of afoxé, Bahia and Rio style samba, with an emphasis on the basic samba no pé. You can even expect a bit of classic hip hop or house styles to creep in now and then. It’s a joyous experience that will move you to let go of whatever’s troubling you or holding you back and encourage you to celebrate every moment. It’s true what they say, that samba comes from the heart…

Leticia Dancing Video

DAVI VIEIRA and HIP HOP Axé

Percussionist, songwriter and vocalist. Davi was born in Salvador-Bahia-Brazil, where he studied capoeira and afro-brazilian dance with Raimundo Bispo Dos Santos (Mestre King). Toured Europe, Asia, Africa and The Americas with several bands and dance companies. He has played and recorded with several artists such as Grammy Award Winner Steve Earle, Grammy Award Winner Angelique Kidjo, Grammy award Winner Carlos Santana, Grammy Award Winner Sergio Mendes, David Byrne, Miho Hatori, Giada Valenti, Sun Ra, Wyclef Jean, Yerba Buena, Baby Do Brasil, Deborah Blando, Tandishuwa, Bebel Gilberto, Vinicius Cantuaria, Maria De Barros, Marchan, Richard Bona, Patricia Marx, Muzenza, Tony Mola & Bragada, Dave Eggar, Bole 2 Harlem, The Cabriolets (2008 album) and etc… Davi is a member of Forro In The Dark and a founding member of Ogans and MD MCs a brazilian hip hop/rap group, released CD and Music Video with EMI Records in Brazil. MD MCs was part of a Tommy Boy Records compilation, Planet Rap. Davi was a member of the Off-Broadway Show STOMP for ten years and now he’s working on his solo project HIP HOP AXÉ / An Afro-Brazilian-Pop Sound… http://www.myspace.com/davivieira

DJ ANANÉ VEGA

Described by Billboard Magazine as “combining earthiness with glamour and roots-deep house music knowledge with pop wise diversity,” Anané™ has forged an international career that has included appearances at Japan’s infamous Blue Note Festival, Europe’s giant Montreux Jazz Festival, Finland’s Pori Jazz, Holland’s North Sea Jazz Festival, Cape Town’s Jazz and, Britain’s Womad Festival.
Cirque Du Soleil invited Anané™ to perform the opening song for the Super Bowl XLII pre-game show. Her performance of “One Dream” was seen by more than 140 million people worldwide.
The singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ follows up the 2006 release of her debut album “Ananéselections” with “ANANÉSWORLD™,” a mixture of dance, reggae, rock, R&B soul, world and Caribbean influences.
Anané™ is a producer and songwriter who made a name for herself with her edgy remake of the 1970s classic “Let Me Love You” by Bunny Mack, as well as her emotional version of Yoko Ono’s “Walking On Thin Ice.”
Now, Anané™ is the co-producer, along with Louie Vega, on several tracks on her new album. She has co-written nine of the songs with Grammy Award Winner Lisa Fischer, Duane Harden, Lem Springsteen, Kalu Montiero and Djim Djob.
Music has been in Anané™’s blood since her childhood in Santiago, capital of West African Cape Verde. Soon, Anané™ brought her talents to New York City armed with nothing more than a bag full of clothes and a heart full of dreams. There, she immersed herself in the city’s club culture where she met Producer/DJ/Grammy Award Winner Louie Vega who tapped her as an integral member of the Elements of Life Collective.
Anané™ is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She’s been involved in NextAid, an organization for African children who have lost parents to AIDS, as well as the Anané Vega Scholarship Fund.
“ANANÉSWORLD™,” her sophomore CD was released February 2010 on Nervous Records. “It’s the essence of who I am,” she said of the project. “These are my hopes, my aspirations and my dreams. It’s my global expression; soundtracks to moments in my life.” WWW.ANANESWORLD.COM

DJ Greg Caz

One-half of the Brazilian Beat Brooklyn team that has been holding down Sundays at BK’s Black Betty for 6 years, and is responsible for those “Baile Funk 1 & 2″ mix CDs some of you may have purchased. Or maybe those “Viva O Samba” and “Soul Of Samba-Rock” CDs. Others may know me from my longtime Wednesday night residency at Nublu in the East Village alongside Forro In The Dark. Others still may have encountered me in the decade-plus I’ve been plying New York venues with the choicest funk + soul + reggae + Latin + jazz + rock + etc + etc + etc…. For what I’m “about,” see the Music entry primarily. For what I’m “about” in a different sense, it’s all about good vibes and spreading love. But I’d make a lousy hippie despite that sincere statement, not just because of my excellent hygiene habits, but also because of my sharp awareness of the world we live in and my utter, cynical disgust at the follies of mankind.

http://www.myspace.com/gregcaz

FB gallery

Antonio Bokel is one of the best know artists from Rio De janeiro. FB gallery is dedicated to showcasing the works of talented up and coming artists (mostly related to street arts) from Brazil. Antonio Bokel is one of the best know artists from Rio De janeiro, and a true carioca: not only a painter but also a keen surfer and skater! For his first exhibition in New York, “Graffiti Error” at FB gallery, Antonio found inspiration in the graffiti tags found In Rio and Sao Paulo, and translated what he called” small gestures of rebel power” into vivid and complex works. The “Lovers triptych” is a celebration of the union of bodies and minds as well as an homage to past masters such as Picasso and De Kooning. If you’d like to inquire about these works, or know more about FB gallery, please feel free to contact us at fbgallery@yahoo.com or checkwww.fbgallery.net for news and upcoming exhibitions.

Cesar Vieira and Mistura Perfeita

Cesar Vieira is the leading vocal of Mistura Perfeita, a Brazilian New York based samba/pagode band. Mistura Perfeita plays a mixture of classic sambas from Rio de Janeiro, and different styles of pagode, from Bahia to Sao Paulo. Cesar Vieira and Mistura Perfeita are the perfect combination for a super fun samba night, bringing the best of Brazil to New York City!

Eliano Braz ( Aka CEARA)

In March 2004, Bráz came to New York as a freelance musician in hopes of further exposing himself to new music and experiences. In the past six years Bráz has created his own group, Rabeca-do-Forró playing popular Brazilian music from the Northeastern region of the country. Bráz’s group fuses different kinds of music from all over Brazil and the world, and incorporates improvisations into their work. Bráz has played Brazilian music on the violin throughout all

DJ Anderson Trindade

Dj Anderson Trindade is a Dj and promoter fron Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He lives in NY at the moment and is the creator of the popular Brazilian pool party, Agua at the formally hotel QT and now the Grace hotel. For the past seven years Dj Anderson Trindade has been spinning and promoting Brazilian parties in NY such as Agua, Lapa and BoM. Anderson plays a mix of classics of the Brazilian music from the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s varying from Samba-Rock, Samba, Pagode, Brazilian Funk and others, mixing also some reggae, African and world music.

DJ Miller Cruz

Originally from Minas Gerais, in the heart of Brazil, Miller Cruz grew up playing percussion on the street corners of his hometown. Inspired by such diverse influences as Pink Floyd, Jorge Ben Jor, Taj Mahal, and Bob Marley, he brings a uniquely Brazilian approach to house music. A true son of the Tropicalista movement that swept Brazil in the 60s and 70s, Miller reaches across cultures, eras and genres to create a sound that is both forward thinking in reach, but loyal to its historical roots. He says, “Our goal has always been to create a fusion of new Brazilian sounds with house, drum n bass, deep house, Latin, classics and more We go everywhere with the styles, that’s what makes us different and unique besides that great energy that comes from our crowd which is just amazing. Sometimes, I wish I was just partying myself instead of playing.”

Dj David Medina

From 1995 to present, DJ David Medina has spun at private parties, lounges and clubs as far as Australia and Brazil. These include SOB’s, Cielo, Crash Mansion, Satalla, Village Underground, IL Pirata and El Rincon in San Francisco, Bembe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Baraza in the Lower East Side, NYC, Bar da Praia in Bahia, Brazil and Café de La Salsa in Sydney. From 1998 to 2004, he was the DJ at the legendary “Cubansoul” Wednesdays at Nell’s. Medina has been working with Havanarumba since 1999 and continues to DJ the parties first started at La Belle Epoque and No’ Moore and now at a number of clubs in NYC. DJ David Medina has also been the guest DJ for renowned bands such as Los Van Van (Hammerstein Ballroom 2001), Los Fakires (SOB’s 2002), Ricardo Lemvo (Satalla 2005), and many more. In addition he has opened for or alternated with a multitude of Latin American and New York based groups which include: Salsa Celtica from Scotland, Raices Habaneras, Tiempo Libre (Miami), La Timba Loca, Joseito Mateo from the Dominican Republic and salsa greats: Andy Montañez, Hector Casanova, Nelson Gonzalez, Jimmy Bosch, Alfredo de la Fe, Nicky Marrero and Pupi Lagarretta to name a few . He continues to be a guest DJ every summer at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing concert series.

Sabine Blaizin

Brooklyn Mecca/Oyasound/Rhythm&Roots are the creative projects of Dj Sabine. DJ Sabine’s Oyasound events focuses on the exposures and pleasure of African Diasporic music like Ancestral House, Afrobeat, Afrotech, and Haitian Roots. Oyasound events incorporate live performances, visual and vendors. Brooklyn Mecca has been coined the home of “grassroots dance culture”. Dj Sabine is the founder, spinning global sounds and diasporic tunes. Her main influences are her spirit guides, ancestors and warrior women. Her ear for music soothes the innate part of herself and others that honors the sounds of drums, the power of words, and the healing affect of conjuring up pure positive feelings and emotions. All of which her musical mission is to move one to dance, release and ultimately be free. Dj Sabine has spun for New York City’s venues and grassroots organizations such as Nuyorican Poet’s Café, Joe’s Pub, Aaron Davis Hall, the Apollo, on the Central Park Summerstage, Sisterfire NYC, Sista II Sista, Black out Arts Collective, the Brooklyn Museum, Guggenheim Museum, Studio Museum of Harlem and more. Dj Sabine has spun internationally in Montreal (SOULMEKA), Cancun (Mi Casa Holiday) and nationally in Omaha (LOOM) Denver, (Afroblu), Boston (Deeplove.Soul Revival), Chicago (3Degrees/Cuatro), Dallas (Soul Funktion), St. Louis (Escuela), LA/SF (Afrofunke/Bembe), Atlanta (Divas of House, Afrique Electrique), Miami (WMC-Brooklyn Mecca/Libation event).

Toca and Ale Ale

Live percussion from JustinJustin aka “Toca” and Ale Ale Drummers
Ale-Ale is a drumming/dance group that I created in 1999. Born out of New York Central Park’s Drum Circle, I met two amazing women drummers. Promoters started to ask us to play in night venues. A few months later we were on a big stage performing for a large audience.

The Ale-Ale Foundation is not just drummers but also Brazilian Samba Dancers & Capoeiristas. This is a conscious movement of artistic loving folks who support expression of all mediums.