WOMAD

Tupi Nago

From Brazil

In 1992 a dozen Brazilian musicians got together to revitalise the image of Brazilian music. A group comprised of mostly percussionists, they combined the Axe-Music (samba reggae) of Salvador with the samba of the morros (hills) of Rio – with African and Oriental flavours thrown in - all set in the scene of the banks of the Seine in Paris.One of the founder members, Silvano Michelino, had accompanied most of the big names of popular Brazilian music before moving to France, where he collaborated with several African musicians.Tupi Nago’s first album, ‘Do Brazil’, was released in 1994, and a second, ‘Abra Cada Brazil’ is to be released at the end of 1999.The group’s aim is to create a unique style of music, as though reading between lines – a blend of African heritage, modern Brazilian and Afro-Parisian influences.On stage there is one guitar, one keyboard, six percussionists, two female lead vocalists and one chorus singer.  The harmonies are simple and pure and the effect is polished.The percussion includes forro, marucatu, samba, samba reggae, bumba meu boi - and the Jamaican and African rhythms make for a compulsive dance beat.Tupi Nago presents a style that is both original and avant-garde - always evoking the fiesta spirit.