samba Concerts

Find upcoming concerts of popular samba touring artists.

Samba is a rhythmic music genre that originated in Brazil, particularly in the Afro-Brazilian communities, and has become synonymous with Brazilian culture. Samba includes different rhythms in well-known Brazilian music styles. It started in the late 1800s and early 1900s in communities in the state of Bahia. Later, it developed more in Rio de Janeiro during the early 1900s.

MUSICALITY

Samba is characterized by its lively percussion rhythms, beats, and lines. The genre typically features instruments such as the surdo (bass drum), tamborim (small hand drum), cuíca (friction drum), pandeiro (tambourine), and tantã (tom-tom). These instruments come together to create intricate and layered rhythms that drive the music forward and are all very present in Brazilian music genres.

Samba often incorporates call-and-response patterns, encouraging audience participation and creating a sense of community. The music's dynamic and lively nature, combined with its infectious rhythm, invites people to dance and celebrate.

THEMES

Samba's themes encompass a wide range of subjects, reflecting the cultural, social, and political dynamics of Brazil. Many samba songs celebrate Brazilian traditions, folklore, and the energy of everyday life.

Samba's popularity in Brazil was boosted by its inclusion in the country's films, especially in musical comedies. It became a crucial part of movie soundtracks, storylines, and sometimes even the main theme of the film. The positive reception of the short film "A Voz do Carnaval" by Adhemar Gonzaga opened the doors for many other films centered around rhythm. These movies often featured popular radio singers, like in "Alô, Alô, Brasil!" where artists such as Aurora Miranda, Francisco Alves, Mário Reis, Dircinha Batista, Bando da Lua, Almirante, and Lamartine Babo played significant roles.

FAMOUS ARTISTS

Samba has produced numerous influential artists who have made significant contributions to the genre and have become iconic figures in Brazilian music. Some notable samba artists include Cartola, Clara Nunes, Beth Carvalho, Zeca Pagodinho, Alcione, Martinho da Vila, Elza Soares, and Jorge Aragão.

In the early 1940s, a sub-genre called samba de breque emerged. It's characterized by a distinctively syncopated rhythm and abrupt stops known as "breques" (from the English word "break," a Brazilian term for car brakes). In this style, singers would interject spoken, often humorous comments related to the theme. Moreira da Silva became a prominent figure and a key name associated with this sub-genre.

A new samba renewal, called pagode, gained popularity in Rio de Janeiro during the 1970s through a redefined concept of "rodas de samba" (samba circles). In this context, "pagodes" or "pagodes de mesa" (pagode circles) emerged, where sambistas congregated around a large table, often set in a residential backyard. This was a departure from the more trendy samba circles held in clubs and similar venues. Notable pagodes in the city included the Pagode of Clube do Samba at João Nogueira's residence in Méier, Terreirão da Tia Doca featuring rehearsals of the Portela old guard sambists in Oswaldo Cruz, Pagode of Arlindinho organized by Arlindo Cruz in Cascadura, and, notably, the pagode of the carnival block Cacique de Ramos in the suburban area of Leopoldina.

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