These sessions primarily focus on Brazilian percussion-ensemble traditions from Salvador, Bahia. 

​The mission of the class is to 1) approach these rich cultural practices with great deference, 2) foster individual musicianship, and 3) grow as an ensemble, especially for performances within the community.
CLASS APPROACH
We examine Brazilian percussion ensemble styles and traditions, for example:
  • Samba Afro
  • Samba Batucada
  • Samba Reggae
  • Maracatu
​
​Each style uses a combination of the following instruments to create a polyphonic musical texture or 'groove':
With the groove as a foundation, we complete the arrangement by adding compositional elements: 
  • Call-in (to begin)
  • Call-out (to stop)
  • Breaks
  • Introductory Sections
  • Layering of Grooves
  • Contrasting Grooves / Sections
  • Part Variations
  • ​Solos

Finally, we prepare multiple arrangements in order to perform. Local performance opportunities include:
  • Samba Da Shows & Beach Parties
  • Dance Troupe performances (Dance Week)
  • Halloween Street Performance
  • Join Monterey samba group ‘Samba Legal’ (e.g. 4th of July parade)
  • San Francisco Carnival (late May)
  • Santa Cruz Holiday Parade
  • Pride Month Events
  • Local School Festivities
  • Brazilian Day Festivities
  • Chinese New Year Festivities
CURRENT RHYTHMS
Rhythms for the ENTIRE CLASS:
  1. Charminho ('Charming')
  2. Olodum Mystery
  3. Samba Reggae
  4. Ijexa
  5. 6/8 (Rhythmic Principles, 12 Bell_(Bembe/Short Bell))
  6. Slow Samba
​
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED rhythms:
  1. ODC Suite
  2. Muzenza
  3. Ile Aiye 2 (Samba Afro)
  4. Samba Batucada
​
Supplemental Rhythms:
SONGS & RHYTHMS
LOCAL CLASSES & EVENTS
West African Drum Class @ Drumskulls
Contact Drumskulls about their ongoing drum classes. Also, Matt and this community regularly gather to play at lighthouse field and local dance classes.  
[email protected]
www.drumskulldrums.com
+1 (831) 429-5766

Drum Playshops w/ Jim Greiner
Jim hosts ongoing drum playshops. Third Friday 7 to 8:30pm. Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Dr., Soquel, CA 95073, in Soquel Village. Doors open at 6:30. $10.
www.HandsOnDrum.com

​Recurring Drum Circles
Join the regular full moon drum circle, as well as the sunday lighthouse jams. Find info on Facebook 'Drum Circles by the Sea' and meetup.com

Dance Classes
Serving as a drummer in community-dance-classes typically offers unparalleled opportunity to practice, learn, and grow. My recommendation is to 1) find a class that resonates 2) develop a relationship with the musicians, and 3) keep showing up!!! 

Watsonville Taiko

Singing Wood Marimba

Cabrillo Latin Jazz Ensembles
anchor: yourUniqueName
CHARMINHO
This rhythm was taught by Cara De Cobra in Salvador, Bahia, January 2023.
OLODUM MYSTERY
This Samba Reggae arrangement was taught by Gilmario Marques and Andreia Reis of Olodum in Salvador, Bahia, January 2023. I did not learn the name of it, hence the current title: "Olodum Mystery [Rhythm]."
olodum_mystery_audio.m4a
File Size: 2028 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File
Note: the edit of the audio is disjunct as a result of abbreviating the original clip.
SAMBA REGGAE​​
This rhythm was taught by Gilmario Marques and Andreia Reis of Olodum in Salvador, Bahia, January 2023.
samba_reggae_audio.m4a
File Size: 3544 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File
Note: the edit of the audio is disjunct as a result of abbreviating the original clip.
MUZENZA
Muzenza is a Bloco (samba group) in Salvador Bahia. The origin of this arrangement is unknown. It was taught at Humboldt State University and performed in 2005. After hearing a recording of it, I loved it so much that I transcribed and performed it for my graduate recital at CSU Long Beach in 2007 (heard below). 
ILE AIYE 2 (SAMBA AFRO)
This arrangement was taught by Marcio Peters at California Brazil Camp in August of 2022. (The recording below was taken there). 

The name of the rhythm/arrangement is not known. Therefore we've been calling it 'ILE AIYE 2'. Ile Aiye is the group Marcio is in. It is synonymous with the style of music called Samba Afro.  
ile_aiye_2_by_marcio_peters.m4a
File Size: 1073 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File
BREAK 7
 BREAK 9 & 10
IJEXA
Ijexa originates from Brazil's Candomble traditions. It's rhythms are some of the countries most iconic, especially the bell part (agogo).
This is one of many parts and variations played on timbao. 
SAMBA AFRO
​This is the defining rhythm of Samba Afro and the group Ile Aiye.

 “This rhythm is Samba Afro before the emergence of the Afro Blocos in Salvador. They already played this rhythm. It’s very much known as the rhythm of Ile Aiye because Ile Aiye was the principle bloco that maintained this tradition. There were other samba schools in salvador [at the time]." 

-Anderson Souza (Son of Neguinho do Samba)
Santa Cruz, CA., 23 March 2018    
SAMBA BATUCADA PERFORMANCE OUTLINE
GROOVES & Breaks
 -Classic 5 (3-5, 1-2) → HSU (1-2)
SAMBA - Medium
  -Fast C&R
SAMBA - Fast
  -Break #4
  -Frog— Fast C&R
  -Time Out*
  -Thumbs*
  -Trifecta Break (California Brazil Camp)
     -Fox
     -Hips 
   ​  -Clicks
6/8
  -SOLO – Slow C&R x2
SAMBA (AFRO*) - Slow (Source: Anderson Souza)
  -SOLO - Fast C&R x3
  -Shooter Break
SAMBA - Fast
  -Break 2
  -Break 5 / Hand wave
  -Break 3
END BREAKS 
  -17, 10
  -Jorge's False Ending C&R
  -Trucker
  -'Spectacular' Ending (CBC 08')​

OTHER MATERIAL* 
  -Break 1 / Round Up
​  -3rd Surdo Entrance
  -Tamborim Designs
  -Arcata Intro (H. Kaufman)

* = TBD
NO CLASS 8/21, 8/28
Joe Mailloux M.M.
(831) 435-6813
​[email protected]
Lesson Hours:
Mon-Sat
​Tannery Arts Center
1030 River St. 
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060