The Brazilian Beat

Brian Rice talks with us about learning to play pandeiro, and his current musical projects.

Epi 63 Bruce Ogilvie from Samba Loca Dianna Ramirez & Courtney Danley Download GoSamba.net Instruments and gear from Brazil! Shop Now Bio: Bruce Ogilvie started drumming in 1999 after relocating to Morro Bay, Ca. He started out playing with a local West African troupe and has studied under masters such as Mamady Keita and Bolokada Conde among others. He began playing samba after attending an 2014...

Lee Clippard leading Austin Samba Epi 62 Lee Clippard Director of Austin Samba Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download New drums arriving at GoSamba.net Shop Drums Bio: Lee Clippard is the director of Austin Samba, which he has been a member of since 2005 and director since 2017. His passion for Brazilian percussion was ignited in 2002 in Madison, Wisconsin, where he joined the Handphibians. Pri...

Bruno Moraes talks with us about the state of carnaval in Rio, the impact of Troféu Bateria, and why São Paulo baterias are so darn good!

Thalita Santos and her tamborim Episode 60 Thalita Santos Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download Samba drums from Brazil Visit GoSamba.net Shop For Drums Bio: Thalita Santos was born and raised in Niterói. Her first contact with percussion was 10 years in the school band playing snare drum. She always loved carnival and later joined Unidos do Viradouro. She played with Viradouro for 15 years wh...

Adriana Portela is the director of Banda Didá Feminina. The is the first woman to conduct an all female samba-reggae band in Brazil!

Douglas Alonzo Episode 58 Douglas Alonso Dianna Ramires & Courtney Danley Download GoSamba.net has even the little things! Click Here Bio: Drummer and percussionist Douglas Alonso is an example of a musician who fell in love with a style from an early age, and made it his life and breadwinner. A sambista by nature, Douglas began playing the pandeiro and later adapted the technique of the instrumen...

Episode 57 Henrique Araújo Dianna & Courtney Download GoSamba.net has more than just drums. Click here Bio: Henrique Araújo currently represents an important reference for cavaquinho and mandolin in the Brazilian music scene. He completed the mandolin and cavaquinho courses at ULM-SP in 2008, studied composition and conducting at FAAM College in 2013 and has participated in several concerts, and r...

Conversation with Stacy Kovacs the leader of the 100 member all-female bateria in New York City, Fogo Azul NYC. They are a powerhouse of women empowerment in the United States.

Courtney was able to sit down with Mestre Junior Sampaio for some time in Rio de Janeiro and talk about growing up in Rio, in samba schools, and in candomblé. He has a fascinating story and deep knowledge of the origins of samba, how it has changed over time, and important mestres who have directed that change.

Long form interview with Pitoco De Aira of Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante.

Dudu Fuentes tells us about his journey as a musician growing up in Rio De Janeiro Brazil. Playing in the band Monobloco, arranging for Bangalafumenga, and his current projects in Rio and around the world.

Episode 52 Kleber Komká Founder of Batuque Digital Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download Bio: Kleber Komká, is a musician and percussionist. He has played with some of the great names of Brazilian Popular Music and Brazilian Samba, such as Alcione, the late Beth Carvalho, Danilo Caymmi and many others. He is a Percussionist and director of drums with more than 30 years of parading in the batte...

Episode 51 Serrinha Raiz Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download Bio: Serrinha grew up in a family of musicians and sambistas that originated in Imperio Serrano and Estacio de Sa’.  Since childhood, he demonstrated interest in various percussion instruments. He participated in “rodas de samba” that had some of the great samba personalities as invitees:  Jorge Aragao, Monarco, Almir Gui...

Episode 50 New York Samba School & Brazilian Council on Samba Carlos (Caco) DeOliveira Dianna Ramirez and Courtney Danley Download Bio: Carlos DeOliveira also known as Caco, is the founder and Executive Director of New York Samba School and the Brazilian Council on Samba. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, his work as a musician, percussionist, writer, producer and community organizer are man...

Episode 49 Kahlil Cummings Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download shop for samba drums Bio: Kahlil Cummings, a Los Angeles native, is an acclaimed drummer, exceptional performer, composer, and educator. Kahlil was recognized as a child prodigy very early; since childhood, he has played with numerous reputable groups including Ballet Folclórico Do Brasil, Sona Sané, Abalayé, Mila Samba School, I...

Episode 48 Sounds of CBC 2 Dianna Ramirez & Courtney Danley Download Samba Gear at Go Samba! gosamba.net Shop Now This podcast was sponsored by Go Samba! Gosamba.net Order of appearance: Jorge Alabe Orisha class Coco with Mestre Pitoco Surdo Sectional with Mestre Ailton Dance class warm up with Brian Rice on Tabla (What’s the deal with Brian Rice?!?) Samba de Roda with Mestre Marcio Peeter and Mar...

Photo credit Eric Crawford Episode 47 creating a non-profit with Dev Nambi Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download Dev’s been playing drums since 1993, in symphonic band, marching band, jazz band, and various musicals. He stopped playing for a few years in his 20’s, a silly decision he hopes you won’t repeat. Since 2014 Dev has been a musician and organizer in https://vamola.org/, the Seatt...

Episode 46 Douglas Jorge, Portela director and professional percussionist Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download Douglas Jorge is a descendent of samba royalty! He is the Grandson of Alcides Gregorio, who was one of the founders of Império Serrano Samba School. Alcides Gregorio was also the Império Serrano’s first Bateria Mestre. Douglas is also grand nephew of Mestre Fuleiro, another founder o...

Episode 45 Pato Irie from TDot Batu Dianna Ramirez and Courtney Danley Download Bio: Pato’ Irie born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, honed his skills and developed his musical stylings while living in and playing in the birthplace of samba reggae–Salvador, Bahia. In 1997 Pato moved to Chile, where he shared his knowledge of samba reggae for more than 10 years. And today he has been in Toron...

Episode 44 Jakub Škrha from Ritmo Factory Courtney Danley and Dianna Ramirez Download This episode is sponsored by GoSamba.net Brazilian drum store in North America Bio Jakub Škrha is a percussionist focusing mainly on Brazilian rhythms and samba. For a year he had lived in Rio de Janeiro, the capital of samba, where he learned rhythms and percussion play with the best Brazilian teachers. As one o...

Tact Hirose talks with us about running a maracatu group in Japan and his experiences as a professional musician.

Dianna Ramirez and Courtney Danley have a conversation with Mestre Memeu of Olodum. This is a long-form interview where we get the chance to ask him about Bahia and Salvador and what it has been like touring the world.

Interview with Ana Laidley, Ainha Malandro, about her life growing up in Estaçao Primera de Mangueira, her 26 years of teaching samba dance classes in the United States, and founding International Samba Congress.

Episode 40 Clarissa Altmann Courtney Danley & Dianna Ramirez Download Clarissa Altmann was born in 1975. From 6 to 16 she played Flute, Fanfare, Trumpet, Piano and Guitar. She saw samba for the first time in 2001. Her first “real” Samba-Experience was 2006 a Batucada Masterclass in Germany with Ivo Meirelles from the famous Mangueira samba school. She fell in love with Rio Samba- Batucada & Fu...