Brooklyn Accordion Club BAC workshop series #11, a participatory workshop “Brazilian Music and Groove Creation on the Accordion” by Rob Curto is happening on Sunday, October 18th, 2-4:PM at 61 Local , Brooklyn, New York.
Admission: $3-$5 (Suggested. Pay what you can!)
B.Y.O.Accordion!
Not an accordion player? Come enjoy the music!
From Rob Curto’s website: New Yorker ROB CURTO brings passion, energy and musicality to the accordion. The Los Angeles Times writes that, “Curto’s originals..combine traditional authenticity with persuasive dashes of jazz.” An early devotee of North American swing music, bebop piano, funk, rock and blues; Curto combines these influences with his mastery of their South American counterparts forró, chorinho, samba, maracatu, frevo and the many other styles that belong the Brazilian accordion tradition.
His discography includes two recent CD’s by the great Mexican/American singer Lila Downs; “Shake Away”, which was nominated for a Grammy as the best World Music CD and the successful CD and DVD, “Live in Paris”. He is a regular member of the Lila Down’s band.
Curto grew up playing jazz piano and studying with musicians such as pianist/composer Gitta Steiner, the great pianist Barry Harris, Brazilian percussionist/educator Vanderlei Pereira, composer/arranger from Rio de Janeiro Leandro Braga, and master of the Brazilian style of music, choro, Alencar 7 Cordas.
After graduating from Princeton University with a degree in Politics, which opened his thinking to the world beyond national borders, he has completely dedicated himself to music as a performer, composer, arranger and teacher.
Curto is a product of New York City’s diverse musical culture and has played with artists such as Lila Downs, David Krakauer, Frank London, the Chieftans, Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Cyro Batista. However, he has also spent years living and playing in Brazil, completely absorbing and interpreting that country’s musical traditions.
Most recently he participated in a project, “American Roots Music”, organized by the United States consulate in Recife, with the group Matuto, of which he is an integral member. The band gave workshops to students at various schools and community centers and played at the Jazz Festival in Garanhuns and on the stage of the Rec Beat Festival during Carnaval 2009.
He has studied and performed with some of Brazil’s great accordionists such as Dominguinhos and Camarão. He has also played with artists such as star Brazilian mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, guitarist Rogerio Souza from Rio’s seminal choro band No Em Pindo D’Agua, Gaúcho guitarist Yamandú and drummer Márcio Bahia (Hermeto Pascoal).
He also performed with the legendary Brazilian singer Elza Soares, and in 2006 recorded a CD of original music and Brazilian classics with musicians from Brasilia, Brazil with production by the important mandolinist Dudu Maia. An original member of the band Forró in the Dark, he is one of the principal musicians who established a strong presence in New York City for forró, the dance music of northeastern Brazil, which has become one the city’s most important cultural movements. Through his workshops and performances he has also introduced many people to the life and work of the great Brazilian singer Luiz Gonzaga.
His group has performed at major festivals and performing arts centers such as the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Minneapolis, the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, the Chicago World Music Festival, Lotus Fest in Indianapolis, the Lowell Folk Festival in Lowell, Mass., the Festival International in Lafayette, La., the Chico World Music Festival in Chico, Ca., Festival International Nuits d’Afrique in Montreal, the Cotati Accordion Festival, the Carrefour Mondial de l’Accordeon in Montmagny, Quebec, the International Accordion Festival in San Antonio, Tx., the American Folk Festival in Bangor Maine, among many others. Most recently he played a successful show in Uruguay at the culturally important music venue, El Tartamudo in Montevideo.
For further information: brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com
