Heaviest Hands, Subtlest Touch
Bahia is The Land of the Drum, and there are of course some fabulous percussionists here, including those who play out-and-about and record and are locally renowned (don't let the "locally" fool you; to be renowned in Bahia means out-of-this-world class), and others out in the backlands or off in the favelas who are just as magnificent. So for those interested in studying percussion here I'm going to list some options...
The Excellent Hands of Gabi Guedes
Imbued with Knowledge
 Mãe Menininha |
Gabi Guedes is an alabé (he is the principal drummer) in the Gantois house of candomblé here in Salvador, responsible for bringing down the deities. He was made filho-de-santo by Mãe Menininha, perhaps the most famous mãe-de-santo (head priestess) to have ever existed. Gabi is a reference not only for the rhythms of candomblé ketu (the nation of the house he drums for), but for gêge and angola as well.
Gabi spent nine years as a member of Jimmy Cliff's band (and so speaks English, albeit rusty), and here in Brazil he's played and recorded with a plethora of well-known people including Gilberto Gil, Margareth Menezes, Raimundo Sodré and Lazzo Matumbi. He was featured in the BBC's Lonely Planet magazine of May, 2009, per below...
...and he currently does the percussion arrangements for thirty-some piece Afro-Brazilian Jazz ensemble Orkestra Rumpilezz.
Gabi may be reached at 55 Brazil 71 (Salvador) 8884-8548, his cell phone, or by emailing gabiguedes10@yahoo.com.br.
The Mãos Magistrais (Magistral Hands) of Cacau do Pandeiro, and the Wheel of Wow
Carlos Lázaro da Cruz, popularly known as Cacau do Pandeiro
Cacau do Pandeiro is Bahia's master, one of the instrument's greatest living players. Should you decide to take lessons from the teachers' teacher, don't expect to find a stern octogenarian. This trove of Brazilian musical lore is humble and a very nice guy, a pleasure to be around. He plays and teaches choro.
Sorry about the long intro, but it's worth waiting a minute or so for the music to really kick in!
Cacau plays in the roda de choro (which in a Google translation came out as "The Wheel of Wow"; don't you just love it!) on Monday nights in Salvador's Teatro Vila Velha. This clip was filmed on Monday, March 29th, 2010.
He may be reached at 55 (Brazil) 71 (Salvador) 9929-3996. Português, por favor!
Giló do Pandeiro, Bamba da Boa!
Giló do Pandeiro
Gilo is a bamba, an all-round sambista, who walks the walk, talks the talk, and plays the rhythms on pandeiro, tamborim, tam-tam, repique and everything else. He's a good teacher, with patience (I ought to know, he helps me a lot with my pandeiro ((which happens to be the one he's twirling above))).
Giló may be reached at +55 71 8875-8944 (mobile) or +55 71 3243-2330. His email is gilodopandeiro@hotmail.com.
