PRESS RELEASE: 2015 12th Brazilian Carnaval in

PRESS RELEASE: 2015 12th Brazilian Carnaval in Calgary
The Brazilian Community Association of Alberta presents to you this unique and great opportunity
to enjoy and celebrate a little bit of Brazilian Culture in Calgary!
Dandara Backen and Salviano Pessoa, are both singers from Salvador, Bahia living abroad,
respectively Francisco and Toronto, will be in Calgary to lead 2 bands for our 2015 Brazilian
Carnaval on Saturday, March 7th at the Chinese Cultural Centre. The two bands will play
traditional Brazilian music for the occasion including, samba, axé, marchinhas and batucada with
local musicians: Rubim de Toledo (bass), Matt Doherty (drums), Guilherme Rizzoto (Saxphone),
Arthur Volato (Keyboard), and special guest Maninho da Costa, percussionista originally from Rio
de Janeiro, currently living in Toronto. Their bios are included in pages 2 to 4.
The cultural program will also include a Capoeira show by Axé Capoeira group. Capoeira is a
Brazilian martial art created by slaves in Brazil to practice their fighting skills, which were mixed
with music and dance movements in such a way as if one looks at them practicing from a
distance, will look as a festivity. Therefore, capoeira is a form of cultural expression and selfdefence.
Dance shows during carnival will include different rhythms for the occasion, such as samba, axé
and maracatu. Dance performers are from Axé Capoeira group and Samba Brasil Heritage Dance
Group.
A costume contest is also part of the event with anyone coming in a costume automatically
included in the contest for great prizes.
Brazilian Gaucho BBQ restaurant is catering the event with a menu including BBQ chicken,
sausage and beef with rice, beans, and salad.
A cash bar will offer the Brazilian typical drink “capirinha”, also wine, beer and guaraná.
Our promotion poster is included at the end of this document.
For more information, please contact: info@bcaab.org or call 403-614-5215
DANDARA BACKEN
Singer
Dandara exceptional voice and her contagious way of moving,
dancing and jumping on the stage, has led her to be called
the "Brazilian Tina Turner.” She is originally from Salvador, but
has been a resident of San Francisco for the past years.
However, she still travels all over Brazil singing on top of "Trio
Elétricos" during Carnaval and in concert halls from São Paulo to
Rio. She was the featured vocalist for "Banda Relógio" with whom
she recorded two cds, as well as to many other bands. Inspired
by the richness and sensuous swing of Bahia's rhythms, no one
can stand still during her performance.
SALVIANO PESSOA
Band Lead, Singer, Guitar player
Originally from Bahia, Salviano is a Brazilan artist with a
poet's heart. He paints his love and soul in his chords and
melodies, he tunes his body and mind to put his feelings
across through his music. Love is his expression, and he
uses it to touch people's hearts.
Salviano made a name for himself on Toronto's Brazilian
music scene. Playing Axé music from Salvador, Brazil,
Salviano's sound is similar to that of the great Carlinhos
Brown. A complete musician, this singer/songwriter also
plays guitar and does his own choreography. His dynamic
stage presence has already earned him many fans in
Canada.
MANINHO COSTA
Percussionist, back vocals
Maninho Costa is the leader of the Toronto famous
group Batucada Carioca. A sambista, Maninho (a term
of endearment meaning “little bro”) started playing in the
baterias of Rio de Janeiro in his early youth. His uncle,
Mestre Odilon Costa, is one of the most recognized
masters of the big Rio samba schools. Among 100
hand-picked musicians, Maninho was chosen to record
the solo repinique parts on the Sergio Mendez
record Brasileiro, for the song Fanfarra. He has played
and is recognized in all the major samba school
baterias. He ended up in Toronto in the early 2000s after being invited to play for the annual
Brazilian Ball. And so it goes — he has been here ever since, punctuated by the yearly trips
to the homeland, Rio de Janeiro.
RUBIM DE TOLEDO
Bassist, Composer
Rubim de Toledo is a bassist based out of Calgary, AB,
Canada. He specializes in Jazz, Brazilian and Cuban
musical styles. Rubim has released 4 solos CDs with his
latest, the Bridge, released in 2014. Rubim de Toledo,
brings an upbeat mix of Brazilian-Jazz and Bossa Nova
music to the stage featuring an all-star band of local jazz
musicians. Utilizing his Brazilian
heritage, Rubim de Toledo creates a refreshing blend of
Brazilian sounds inspired by the music of Brazilian Jazz
legends Hermento Pascoal and Eberto Gismonti, and
Bossa Nova fathers Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto. This
blend of Bossa Nova, Choro, Samba and Jazz is sure to
please Canadian and Brazilian audiences alike!
GUILHERME RIZZOTO
Saxphone player (alto)
Guilherme has been studying music for 9 years. He started
his studies with flute switching to saxophone afterwards.
He is originally from Brazil and had played in a Brazilian
Bossa Nova Band called Cordas, Acordes e Sons as well as
in the União Democratas Musical Society. At the later
institution he had successfully volunteered as the
saxophone instructor. Guilherme has been in Calgary for
about a year to complete the last year of his
undergraduate program. At last, he enjoys the city and
wants to have a great time playing with Dandara and the
band at the Brazilian Carnival!
ARTHUR VOLPATO
Keyboard player
Arthur started his music studies at
home at 12 years of age and has
always taken music as a hobby,
recently started playing
professionally. Came to Calgary to
continue his degree in Computer
Science and will be back to Brazil in
September. About six months away
from the keyboards, he is very
excited to play in the band for
Dandara and other excellent
musicians.
Matt Doherty
Drummer
Matt Doherty is a performing drummer based out
of Calgary, Alberta. After receiving instruction in
Jazz performance at Mount Royal University he
has continued to perform in countless original
local acts across Canada, The USA and Europe.
Most notably Matt performs with local hero's The
Dudes, HighKicks, Raleigh, Am Static, Jose Neto
and Samantha Savage Smith. His experience in
Jazz, Latin, Rock, folk and Hip Hop music has
allowed him to play in a variety of musical
situations and you can watch him play live
numerous times a week in Calgary's original
music scene.
Picture taken at the Dudes show in Vancouver, The Vogue Theatre in 2013.