SALSA band Os Sambistas join forces with the acclaimed percussionist and singer Bosco De Oliveira at the Queen's Hall, Narberth, next Saturday, February 10, for a toe-tapping concert of Brazilian music featuring some of the most loved tunes from arguably the richest musical heritage on the planet.
In a concert celebrating 'The Story of the Samba', the Cardiff sextet and the London-based Brazilian journey through Brazil's musical history, from the earliest forms of the music to the larger-than-life bombastic sambas of recent times. Recently the subject of a BBC feature, special guest, Brazilian percussionist Bosco De Oliveira has worked with Terry Callier and Kate Bush, as well as a long list of great British jazz and popular music names. Apart from the beautiful material, it's the instrumentation that makes the band work so well. Violin and flute take the melody, nylon string guitar and cavaquinho (cousin of the ukelele) accompanying them, with a subtle yet energetic duo of pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine) and tan-tan, a bass drum with a long, ethereal tone providing the essential groove.
This combination draws the listener in, lures you with subtle melodic tones and gets your feet moving with echoes of African rhythm. "Wherever we play, whether café bar, restaurant, nightclub or arts centre, people seem to love the sound, the beats and the intricate melodies," said Mark O'Connor, the leader. Promoted by Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon, The Samba Story Tour 2007 is an exclusive Welsh tour visiting 11 venues in towns across Wales and is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Arts Council Of Wales through the Arts Outside Cardiff Fund.
Don't miss this exhilarating concert by some of the finest exponents of Brazilian music working in the UK today. Tickets for this unique show can be booked now by calling Span Arts on 01834 869323.