LONDON, UK, October 14, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- The cream of their 70-piece bateria (samba percussion section) is captured here in the studio (as a 15-piece) presenting a fresh mix of the expected and unexpected - funked-up, carnival style. Songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese why...?
It is truly a London thing: influences of many rhythmic communities of our capital represented in street sound funk, reggae, motown anthems, classic sambas and even salsa!
Masterminded and arranged by chief F-IRE architect Barak Schmool, with originals flowing from the UKs godfather of samba / master percussionist Bosco de Oliveira and underground Brit-hop sensation Mystro. As if that was not enough (and the family not global enough) Australian Latin specialists Son Veneno guest on 5 tracks, Demus of 2 Banks of 4 mixes. World music right on our doorstep with RotC dancers performing sensational chorography *(see notes to the editor)
Album launch:
Date: Tues 21st October 2008
Place: Guanabara, Parker Street, London WC2
Time: 9pm show
The Music
El Preso/Aguanile Bonko are classics of the salsa world, from Colombian bandleader Fruko and Cuban pianist Chucho Valds respectively.
Ilu Aye / Aldeia de Okarimb are classics of Rios samba world associated likewise with Portela samba school and Neginho da Beija-Flor.
Astrals samba funk (a number 1 in Brazil) was popularized by Bahian songstress Ivete Sangalo.
ROTC was created for this CD by Mystro & Barak Schmool (sampling the sounds of their own band).
Godfather of the UKs samba scene Bosco de Oliveira wrote Riva originally for the Mr Bongo release Brazilian Explosion (originally titled Respeito respect it pays homage to great Brazilian percussionists). His new contribution Rua Brasileira is about street life in Brazil replayed on solo berimbau for Beco Da Vida. Otis Reddings anthem needs little introduction
Track list: Rhythms of the City with Son Veneno
1 El Preso 6 27 (Julio Fruko Rincon)
2 Riva (respeito) 5 11 (Joo Bosco de Oliveria)
3 Astral 6 21
4 Ilu Ay (terra nova) 3 55
5 Aguanile Bonko 4 38 (Jesus Chucho Valdes)
6 Rua Brasileira 4 13 (Joo Bosco de Oliveria)
7 Beco da Vida 3 19 (Joo Bosco de Oliveria)
8 ROTC 4 42 (Mystro / Barak Schmool)
9 RESPECT 3 27 (Otis Redding)
10 Aldeia de Okarimb 7 05
Total time 49 18
Key Personnel:
Barak Schmool: born and based in London, brain behind the F-IRE collective, saxophonist/ percussionist and composer continually active in promoting innovative new living music, he is better known as a luminary of the jazz world. Inspirational teacher at RAM Trinity Coll, City Uni, director of the F-IRE record label, conducts regular community classes, involved in African, Latin, Classical and Jazz music, performs around the world side-man (and former roadie) of Django Bates.
Bosco de Oliveira the first master Brazilian percussionist to make his home in the UK. Initiated the entire UK samba scene by starting the London School of Samba, He has toured internationally with stars including Madness, Hamish Stuart, Working Week throughout a long career. His own work is well known Brazilian Explosion (Mr Bongo) being one of the most well sampled of all Brazilian percussion based dance albums.
Maurizio Ravalico, Italian conga player with an array of impressive credits under his belt (Afro-Cuban All Stars, Merengada, Dele Sosimis Afrobeat orchestra) also on many albums throughout the 90s with Jamiroquai and James Taylor Quartet Singing in Afro-Cuban tradition, his Afroshock duo with fellow Italian Davide Giovaninni remains an underground masterpiece of the Latin percussion world.
Mystro - West London rapper, star of worlds usually far distant from carnival sounds. Humorous leader of the Natural Born Spittaz a long-long string of releases and collaborations with Mark de Clive-Lowe etc.
Son Veneno - the absolute number 1 Australian Latin band. Direct from Sydney, they took the UK scene by storm in 2006-7 with their spiced up Timba and Latin Hip hop, lead by drum n bass team Marin brothers Steve and Cesar. Still touring the world, occasionally with Mystro, will be back in 2009.
Demus (Dilip Harris) keyboard/composer/producer of dance-floor soul-jazz legends in the making 2 Banks of 4 big in Japan, big in London too. Seen plenty of action with young
F-IRE related crew, mixing Robert Mitchell, Eska, breaks beats like no other man.
Contact: Andrea Coore
andrea@f-ire.com
+44 (0) 79 4660 6955
Release Date: 29 September 2008
Distribution: Proper Music Distributed Limited
Catalogue number F-IRE CD 26
Websites: www.f-ire.com http://www.rhythmsofthecity.com
Bookings rotc@f-ire.com
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