Tribute to João Gilberto
Date: April 18, 2012
Time: 7:30 PM
Maucha Adnet: Brazilian singer will perform pieces by the Bahia-born singer, guitarist, and composer João Gilberto. Maucha Adnet was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and started her professional career at the age of 15 as a member of vocal group Céu da Boca. From 1978 to 1984, Céu da Boca recorded two albums released by Polygram. Adnet performed, toured and recorded with legendary composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and his group Banda Nova from 1984 to 1994. Adnet will be accompanied by Pittsburgh’s great Roger Humphries, Marty Ashby, and Tony DePaolis along side her musical director Helio Alves on Piano. João Gilberto is internationally known as the “Father of Bossa Nova,” having been credited with creating the bossa nova beat. His recordings in the 1950’s and 60’s established this musical genre as a fusion of jazz and the Afro-Brazilian percussion of the samba. He is most recognized for the Jobim/de Moraes composition “The Girls from Impanema,” that he performed with his wife, vocalist Astrud Gilberto and American saxophonist Stan Getz.
Folkloric Dance/Martial Arts
Date: April 21, 2012
Time: 7:30 PM
Ologundê:Dende Macedo and the New York-based Ologundê ensemble will celebrate the rich Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador, Bahia through an evening of internationally acclaimed folkloric music, dance and martial arts that celebrates the rich Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia. They perform a diverse repertoire which includes the rituals associated with Candomblé, a synthesis of the Yoruba and Catholic religions in which various orixas (gods) are invoked; the breathtaking capoeira martial arts dance; maculélé, a warrior dance which utilizes sticks and machetes and was originally created in the sugar cane fields by slaves; and the exhilarating samba de roda, which can be traced back to the semba of Angola. Comprised of Brazilians living both in the United States and Brazil, Ologundê includes former members of world-renowned music and dance troupes and is under the direction of noted percussionist Dende from the famed Timbalada band. The ensemble has performed throughout the US since its formation in 2002 and toured Greece as part of the Cultural Olympiad, appearing at the Kalamata Dance Festival and at the Athens Festival at the Acropolis.
