Percussion and Strings of Bahia

Workshop by Jurandir Santana and Marcus Santos
Saturday, October 29, 2011, 1:30-3pm
MAPS Building, 90 Union Square, Somerville, MA

Jurandir Santana and Marcus Santos will present a workshop on Samba de Roda, Samba de Caboclo and other important music styles and rhythms of Bahia. The state of Bahia, located in the northeast of Brazil, features some of the most rhythmically interesting music of Brazil with African, Portuguese and native Brazilian influences.

This workshop will be a great opportunity for students, faculty, ensembles and community members to learn and experience the fascinating rhythms of Bahia.

Jurandir Santana Guitarist, arranger and musical producer Jurandir Santana from Salvador, Bahia, is an outstanding artist specialized in the music of Bahia and Brazilian music in general. A 30 year veteran of the Brazilian music scene, Mr. Santana has shared the stage with Hermeto Pascoal, Gal Costa, Rosa Passos, Canadian saxophonist Grant Stewart, Chicago Saxophonist Vandy Harris and many others. His unique polyrhythmic approach on the guitar infuses the complex elements of the Bahian rhythm section and extended jazz harmonies. On his tour in Turkey and Europe, Santana was the director of the Yabas percussion group.  In 2010 he was interviewed by the Guitar Player magazine for his unique musical style to play guitar (article in Portuguese).

Marcus Santos A contemporary percussionist and educator, Marcus Santos is a native of Bahia, Brazil. Santos commits his life to the study, teaching and performance of his home town's Afro-Brazilian music and heritage.  His dedication has earned him a variety of opportunities and international successes after receiving a scholarship and completing his studies with honours at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Marcus has led numerous workshops on Afro-Brazilian percussion and music for Social Change in universities and conventions around the world, including MIT, Harvard, Brown University, Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Percussion Arts Society International Convention in 2007 and 2010.

What to bring

• your instrument
• amplifier, if you play an electric instrument
• music stand
• notebook and music notation book

Marcus will bring a small number of percussion instruments which will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.