Apr 16

Apr 16 Epi 65 Rob Arcari, from Melbourne Australia

Bio:
Melbourne based musician, Rob Arcari has been teaching percussion for the last 18 years throughout Europe and Australia. Rob specialises in both Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban folkloric drums and percussion, with a special passion for the music from Rio’s samba schools.

Originally from the UK, Rob played with a long line of samba groups across Europe from a young age. After moving to Melbourne, he founded the group Bloco 3K in 2016 where he remains as mestre de bateria. Bloco 3K focus on both Samba Carioca and Samba Reggae. Since 2017, Rob is also musical director of Maracatu Estrela do Mar, another Melbourne group, celebrating Afro-Brazilian traditions from the North East of Brazil.

In late 2017 Rob was a founding member of Unidos da Cacatua, an Aus/NZ-wide samba super group, uniting players from across the region. After working as tamborim director, Rob became mestre de bateria in 2019.

Rob is regularly studying and performing in Brazil and has just returned from another trip to Rio where he was busy performing once again in carnaval. This year he was making the official parades playing repique with Estácio de Sá and Imperatriz Leopoldinense, and playing timbal with Acadêmicos da Rocinha and Maracatu Tambores de Olokun.

Alongside his appreciation of Brazilian music, Rob is also deeply passionate about Afro-Cuban folkloric traditions. He has spent much of his life studying and practicing the batá drums and songs of Regla de Ocha, a tradition that he loves.

Links:

bloco3k.com

facebook.com/bloco3k/

instagram.com/bloco3k/

Estreia do Mar

facebook.com/maracatuestreladomar/

instagram.com/estreladomar_maracatu/

Unidos da Cacatua

facebook.com/unidosdacacatua

instagram.com/unidosdacacatua/