Welcome to The Brazilian Beat
Getting to know the Brazilian percussion music-making community, one interview at a time with your hosts, Courtney and Dianna.
Not everyone has the freedom, time, and money to travel to Brazil to learn from the masters. Courtney and Dianna with the help of their dear friend Silvia interview top percussionists, samba group directors, dancers and teachers about new trends and old traditions.
During the 2020 lockdown we decided to refocus the podcast on Brazilians, culture bearers, POC and women. This decision was made in light of Black Lives Matter protests, everyone stuck at home during lock down making it easier to schedule interviews and the advances in technology that made it easier to reach culture bearers and music makers in Brazil. This decision was also made because we felt strongly that the english speaking audience needs to hear the stories directly from these artists in their words.
Have an idea or request? We'd love to hear it! Send your suggestions to thebrazilianbeat@gmail.com.
Contact us:
Email- thebrazilianbeat@gmail.com
Facebook- The Brazilian Beat
Instagram- @thebrazilianbeat
Twitter- @BrazilianBeat1
Dianna Bio
Dianna has been involved in the music and dance of the African Diaspora for many years. She has been a dancer, singer, organizer and musician, with a deep interest in Cuba and Brazil. As she takes the path into podcasting, she hopes to get a better understanding of the worldwide music community. And of course, make some contacts!
Courtney Bio
Courtney Danley multi-percussionist fluent in Brazilian styles. She has been playing percussion since the age of 7 performing in elite youth and adult ensembles in a range of styles including marching percussion, Drum Corps International, band and wind ensembles, modern percussion ensembles, Senegalese styles, Brazilian and Cuban percussion. Her passion is curating community through music performance fueled by love of Samba culture. She believes practicing excellence in craft fosters pride in one's self and connection to community.
Currently, Courtney is a Executive Director of Portland Samba in Portland Oregon where she directs the performance ensemble and teaches group and individual classes in basic technique to advanced samba repertoire. PortlandSamba.com Courtney is grateful for the partnership in this project with Jason Fritts and Esteban Diaz.
She is also on the Secretary of the Percussive Arts Society Oregon Chapter. A global organization that promotes percussion and percussion education.
A lifelong learner, Courtney has traveled to Brazil several times learning from Master teachers. In 2022-2023 she spent six months in Rio de Janeiro where she played repique with Imperatriz Leopoldinense Escola de Samba wining the carnaval championship! Her teachers include Jorge Alabe, Mestre Jonas, Dudu Fuentes, Mamadou Lamine Thioub, Mestre Curtis Pierre, Brian L. Davis, Lucas Eduardo, Mestre Ailton Nunes, Waguinho do Repique, Gabriel Policarpo, Miguel Bernal, Renan Gohan, Mestre Junior Sampaio and Jimmy Biala.
Courtney is a co-host, producer, and sound designer of the The Brazilian Beat podcast, since 2016. The Brazilian Beat podcast strives to put forward the voices and life stories of music makers, teachers, culture bearers and dancers from Samba communities around the world. The aim is to share stories of creators that are often overlooked by traditional media to an English-speaking audience.
In 2018, she founded Go Samba LLC, a Brazilian musical instrument import store specializing in hard to source, authentic drums from Brazil. Go Samba purchases exclusively from small manufacturers in Brazil supporting Samba culture at the source. GoSamba.net
Silvia Manrique, translator especial!
Silvia Manrique is a Chicago-based Brazilian and Latin Jazz vocalist. She has performed at respected venues and festivals like the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Logan Square Arts Festival, the Chicago World Music Festival, the Chicago Latino Film Festival and the Millennium Park Summer Music festival at the beautiful Pritzker Pavilion. In 2016, she participated in the album ‘Aquarela,’ a compilation of children’s songs arranged and produced by the incomparable Paulinho Garcia who says she “carries a song with mastery, both melodically and rhythmically.” Silvia is also plays percussion focused on the Brazilian tamborim, completing studies with Carnaval-style samba percussion masters like Mestre Ailton Nunes of the Mangueira Samba School, Dudu Fuentes of Monobloco and Bangalafumenga, Jorge Alabe and Mestre Jonas of Mocidade Independente.
Here the Brazilian Beat interview with Silvia here:
http://thebrazilianbeat.com/blog/2023/5/26/epi-108-silvia-manrique
Silvia Manrique’s video:
https://youtu.be/A7VVDJYX0gA?si=nmtq5Nh5uQDWiPDs
