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Monobloco - News
UK News

 

HUDDERSFIELD - BRISTOL - HITCHIN - LUTON- EAST of ENGLAND
Background:
Over the past few years Monobloco have built up a reputation in the UK and Ireland as one of the finest performing groups in the genre of Samba and Carnival music from Brazil.

As part of the groups legacy there are several education projects across the UK where students are studying and performing their music. Two of the groups who have performed with Monobloco organised their own shows. One in the North now called Zona Norte and in the South, Toque Tambor.


In addition, this year a group in Bristol (Zirigidum) and a group in East Anglia (Bloco do Sol Nascente) have been added to the list.

On the weekend of 1st 2nd 3rd of May 2009 all of the groups studying will be coming together to rehearse for a performance in Luton as part of the opening ceremony for the new UK Centre for Carnival arts, which has recently been built in the town.

The four groups will be joined by some 16 more students from maSamba in Dublin and 15 people from Ritmos da Cidade in London. In total there will be 130 people performing in the Bateria (drum section).

We are also pleased to say that we are flying over two key members of Monobloco for the event. A singer and a percussionist. Sorry we can't mention any names until it is 100% confirmed.

The group will also be working with another brazilian singer based here in the UK, Xavier Osmir, plus a cavaquinho player from Rio called Gaio. The show will see the group performing a mix of tunes from the current reportoire of Monobloco under the musical directorship of J P Courtney.

There will also be some surprises but shhhh!
The group will also be performing at this years Thames Festival in both a static and parading form on the weekend on 12th 13th September this year. We hope to see you at one or both of the events.
J P
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Location: Huddersfield
Group: Zona Norte
News:  
Venue: Creative Arts Building, Huddersfield University. HD1 3DH
Maps can be found here: http://www.hud.ac.uk/uni/maps.html (it's building number 31 on the campus map)
Date:  
Time:  
Frequency: Monthly
Experience/Level: Not suitable for complete beginners - participants should already have some experience of playing in a samba band.
Instruments: Repique, Agogo, Tamborim, Chocalho, Surdos (1st, 2nd & 3rd) and lots of Caixas.
Cost:  
Contact: Maggie
+44(0)1484 649055
info @slicksticksambastic.com
Description: An exciting new project based in Huddersfield, aimed at teaching the material of MONOBLOCO, through a series of monthly workshops, and to play as a group in an event, if programmed in the next Monobloco UK TourThe workshops will be led by JP Courtney and will take place at Huddersfield University. As well as learning the material, there will be plenty of focus on playing with correct technique and achieving a good sound from the instruments.
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Location: Bristol
Group: ZIRIGUIDUM
News: Classes are now closed to new members until further notice.
The group are working towards the performance in Luton on 3rd may and also the Thames Festival.
Venue: Trinity Community Arts, Trinity Road, Bristol. BS2 0NW
Date: Email for info.
Time:  
Frequency: Sorry, now closed to new participants until further notice.
Experience/Level: All
Instruments: Repique, Agogo, Tamborim, Chocalho, Surdos (1st, 2nd & 3rd) and lots of Caixas.
Cost:  
Contact: monoblocobristol @yahoo.com.br
Description: Learn the playing techniques and rhythms of Monobloco, Rio’s most popular carnival bloco.Principal course tutor JP Courtney is an experienced percussion teacher. Having performed with Monobloco in the UK & Brazil he is now an official Monobloco teacher in the UK.

Course participants may get the opportunity to: Perform in the UK with other Monobloco UK students.To play as a group in an event, if programmed in the next Monobloco UK Tour. And even play a couple songs at Fundição Progresso in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro Jan/Feb 2010.
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Location: Hitchin
Group: Toque Tambor
News: We are closed to new members until September 09 when we will be running a new drumming course.
The group are working towards some very big performances this year including the event in Luton and the Thames Festival.
Venue: Ravidassia Centre, Knowl Piece, Hitchin SG4 0TY
Date: Ongoing
Time: 18:30 - 20:00 beginners 20:00 - 22:00 Band
Frequency: Sorry, now closed to new participants until further notice.
Experience/Level: Beginners & Band
Instruments: Repique, Agogo, Tamborim, Chocalho, Surdos (1st, 2nd & 3rd) and lots of Caixas.
Cost:  
Contact: mail @toquetambor.com
+44(0)7759 943737
www.toquetambor.com
Description: In order to attend you must contact Toque Tambor and register.
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Location: Luton
Group:  
News: Open to new members.
Venue: At the brand new UK Centre for Carnival Arts, 3 St Marys Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. LU1 3JA
Date: Ongoing. Beginning Wednesday 13th August 2008
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Frequency: Regular weekly classes on Wednesdays
Experience/Level: All
Instruments: Repique, Agogo, Tamborim, Chocalho, Surdos (1st, 2nd & 3rd) and lots of Caixas.
Cost: Free
Contact: info @carnivalarts.org.uk
Call Zena or Lena on
+44(0)1582 728005
www.carnivalarts.org.uk
Description:
TOP  
Location: East of England
Group: Bloco do Sol Nascente
News: The group will be performing alongside all the other Blocos involved in the Monobloco project at the Opening of the new UK centre for Carnival arts on 3rd May and also at the Thames Festival, London in Sept 12th 13th. 2009
Venue: The Sixth Form College in Colchester, Cambridge.
Date:  
Time:  
Frequency: Sorry, now closed to new participants until further notice.
Experience/Level: Initially, due to time constraints, the project is open to experienced Sambistas only, at least 12 months of playing in a bloco should suffice. Tamborim players will be expected to demonstrate the ability to play turning techniques.
Instruments: Repique, Agogo, Tamborim, Chocalho, Surdos (1st, 2nd & 3rd) and lots of Caixas.
Cost:  
Contact:

blocosolnascendo@googlemail.com
Description: The aim of the workshops currently being held around the UK is to create a community based music project centred around Monobloco material. The ultimate goal is to bring together blocos and percussionists from all over the country to perform at a major event during the Monobloco 2009 European Tour here in the UK. Other benefits which may interest Sambistas are; the opportunity to join the Monobloco Bateria for their awe inspiring pre-Carnaval shows at Fundação Progresso in Rio de Janeiro as a member of the 'Iniciantes' section; the chance to play complete songs with cavaco players and vocalists; the learning of new rhythms, breaks and techniques; the chance to meet and exchange ideas with blocos and musicians in your region.

Boasting not one, but three experienced Monobloco Bateria members, East Anglia finds itself in prime position to take a leading role in the project. The three tutors Hej, J P Courtney and Marcus Patteson are not only respected tutors in this country but have served their apprenticeship on the blistering Carnaval streets of Rio, with Hej and J P also being integral members of the Monobloco show band here in Europe.The rhythms, whilst featuring traditional Sambas de Enredo, will also include Funk, Congo, Ijexa, Maculelê, Coco and perhaps (time permitting) some Marchas. You need to bring your own instruments.

Despite our best efforts to initiate as large a project as possible, numbers will inevitably be limited so we heartily recommend early registration, this will also allow us the opportunity to balance the Bateria as much as possible in terms of instrument groups. To register simply send an e-mail to blocosolnascendo@googlemail.com confirming your name, instrument played and which bloco you usually play with or register by post at Bloco do Sol Nascendo, 30 Trinity Street, Norwich NR2 2BQ.
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Line-up for Monobloco UK Ireland Tour - 2008
Like professional musicians the world over, all members of this years tour have fingers in many musical pies. Here are the personnel charged with the responsibility of bringing you the powerful Brazilian musical experience that is the Monobloco Show.
Celso Alvim da Gama e Souza
Celso is a founder member & a director of the group. He is the wizard behind many of their musical arrangements. Celso is also a member of “PLAP” Pedro Luis e a Parede (Pedro Luis & the Wall). He learned much of his art from the great Mestre Odilon. On this tour he’ll be playing the caixa & surdo.		 Fábio Pereira Filho
Fabão is the lead singer, bringing a mountain of energy with him. Garaunteed to charm the audience with renditions of Brazilian classics he is equally at home with his rock band O Salto.		 Gabriel Guimarães Lopes
Multi-instrumentalist Gabriel is well known on Rio’s music scene. When he’s not performing with his excellent group Feira Livre you’ll find him playing surdo premeira with the Monobloco Show. For the pagode gigs that will happen in the tour, he will be playing acoustic guitar.
José Teixeira Junior
The lightning quick Junior is Monobloco’s tamborim player. One of Rio’s top players he is highly regarded. Junior learned his art playing for G.R.E.S Mangueira.		 Marcos Rios Santos
Feijão is a master caixa player and a magician with a stick.  He brings his huge skill to the Monobloco groove. He also plays kit drums in Rio de Janeiro. His Dad is in the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest running band, MPB-4, with an unchanged line up.		 Carlos Alexandre Ferrari Neves
A director of the group CA is also a member of PLAP. His enormous skill with a repenique, learned from Mangeira & Mestre Odilon, will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Alexandre Kohl
Professional music teacher and musician Momo plays guitar for the group. He also sings lead and backing vocals, with great presence, providing the bedrock for Monobloco’s melodies.		 Carlos Abreu de Almeida
Cachaca is the latest addition to the Monobloco musical armoury. An established musician working around Rio's samba and forró scene. He’ll be adding his own particular brand of cavaquinho playing to the show.		 Barak Schmool
Respected for his work throughout the UK & Irish samba & jazz scenes City University’s Music Professor will once again be joining Monobloco on caixa. Barak is the man behind the musician’s collective F-IRE and London’s Rhythms of the City.
Hej Jones
Renowned DJ/producer Hej has spent 6 years in Rio. In that time he has made his name as top club DJ. Although he has now returned to his native Norwich he will always remain as Monobloco’s British Ambassador in Rio de Janeiro after sewing the seed of the first Monobloco UK tour. You’ll find him on surdo secunda.		 Simeon Smith
Well known for his percussion work with Goth band, Dead Can Dance, Simeon has led a dual musical life researching Brazil’s rich musical heritage. After many visits he founded Dublin’s premiere, monster, Samba School maSamba. A joint project was recently undertaken where some members of Monobloco visited to join their friends maSamba for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. You’ll find Simeon playing agogo and atabaque for the tour. He doesn't like brown shoes.		 JP
JP is one of the UK’s top Brazilian & Cuban music percussionists. He’s made many visits to Rio and studied Monobloco’s material. He has been teaching what he’s learned to his own bloco Toque Tambor, sambistas back in his native Ireland and to Yorkshire’s Bloco Brigantes project. JP will be joining Junior on tamborim.
Greetings to everyone we met on our 2007 visit and thanks for the lovely comments:
  I thought they were awesome. We learnt some really sweet new grooves, learnt how to play quietly!! and had a huge amount of fun. On the gig I experienced playing in the middle of an elite caixa section... ahhh bliss! Get them back ASAP ;-)
Adam - London
Whoa!!! If you missed them through choice... bad idea. These guys rock. Refreshing, focused and expressing their styles and that of those they've been through in Brasil in a simple style without losing the complexity of it all, but very effective way. And they are fantastic guys as well. That's me happy. If there one word for it's "valeu".
NEXT!!!!
Freed :0)
Thanks again for all your chauffeuring of Monobloco. It was great tosee you in Norwich - as you said, the place that is not on the way to anywhere! The band are still buzzing from the session on Tuesday night - what an amazing group of teachers. I was really impressed how they handled the less experienced of our members and got the best out of them (without the tendency to histrionics you sometimes get). Paul and I were really sorry not to be able to make the mestre's session on Saturday. Will see you again at some point I am sure.Keep up the good work.
All the best.Marcus
This is just the beginning.
Barak
Anyway, to second what other have said, it was an excellent workshopwith some really cool musicians (that includes everyone there), and Ido hope that we can organise something similar, but bigger event for them next year!
Simeon
I'm with Barak on this one.
Mick
If you're exclusively into samba-enredo, these guys can give you a lot to help with swing and arrangement, also samba is very present in the funk and shuffle beat, and if you're a bloco style group who're into fusion, then you'll find a lot here to inspire in terms of creating and arranging fusion grooves, and because they have pretty good english, you don't need to find a translator!I had a great time, I hope that many more people will have the opportunity to meet and play with Monobloco when they come over next year.Many thanks to Mick for putting it all together at such short notice, btw, where do I put my coat?
Sue
Thanks for the great mestre workshop the guys did for us. I enjoyed it hugely and found the group very likeable. Monobloco were, as I find usual for Brazilian musicians, very nice guys and very knowledgeable and willing to pass on their expertise. Also their English was excellent and their method of teaching was also effective. So once again thanks for the invite.
Ron Vint
Not only a percussion 'tour de force' but some very nice and personable people, a pleasure to meet, great ambassadors for both Brazil and Brazilian music. I look forward in anticipation to next years tour of the UK.
Scott
 
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