Radiola Bumba Beat invites Gerson da Conceição (ex-Mano Bantu)!

On July 29, starting at 10 PM, at Pabotim Bar, the former bass player of Mano Bantu and current member of Rita Ribeiro's band will present his work focused on Jamaican music.

THE EVENT

It is curious, but despite ska and especially reggae being so well known in Brazil today, there is a bunch of very good bands working hard to get a space to play. The scene is more or less like this: on one side, the universe of big names like Cidade Negra and, to a certain extent, Skank and O Rappa. In that club, of course, you don't get in that easily. On the other, the beret crowd, who in general dress in green, yellow and red, reproducing the sound and ideas that Bob Marley consecrated 30 years ago — things that, if he were alive, he certainly would not be doing. Because of all this, we decided to take over the corner — which is great, at the corner of Fradique and Inácio, in the heart of Vila Madalena. And we are very excited about our party. We will open space for a new generation of Brazilian DJs and bands of ska, rock steady, reggae and dub to have their turn (take a look at our calendar just below). We realized there is a healthy connection between the music of the black folks from Kingston and today's main dance trends: from drum’n’bass to samba rock, from downtempo to bumba-meu-boi, everything has Jamaican seasoning in the recipe. We cannot let it pass unnoticed.  Live radio program Radiola Bumba Beat, with Doc Reggae and Bruno Lancellotti at the controls, works like a live radio program. But without a transmitter: only those who go can hear it. It is music after music, with open mic, interventions, jingles, information in the right measure and even public participation — song requests, for example (at least). We will play our records, old and new, and provide ammunition so people can understand the importance of certain songs and artists. The participation of other DJs and characters is part of the story.

WHO WE ARE

Bruno Lancellotti, Kaskata, has been researching ska and its branches for ten years. He edited the first Brazilian skazine and hosted the Skabadabadoo! program on Brasil 2000 FM from 1997 to 2002. Currently, alongside Rodrigo Cerqueira, he works in the national and international market of Jamaican music with the Radiola Records brand, responsible for recent releases by Firebug and Victor Rice. bruno@radiolarecords.com.br Otávio Rodrigues, Doc Reggae, did the first reggae program on Brazilian radio (Roots, Rock Reggae, Nova Excelsior FM), the first successful Jamaican night in São Paulo nightlife (Disco Reggae Night, Aeroanta) and the first label of the genre on a major record company (Reggae’n’Roll, Continental). bumbabeat@uol.com.br Gerson da Conceição is a singer, composer, bassist and music producer. A native of São Luís, he is regarded as the number 1 reggae bassist from Maranhão. His musicality, and also the strong bass “pegada”, were created in the most typical of schools: the street. In the Coréia neighborhood, where he lived as a boy, he got to know merengue from a neighbor’s sound system, the tambor de crioula drumming on the corner and, of course, reggae. “That sound interested me from the first time I heard it.” In the mid-1990s, Gerson da Conceição formed Conexão Rasta with other top musicians from Maranhão. The band played with countless local artists, who always called the dream-team for shows and studio recordings. The experience brought new ideas, and from there came Nego Bantu, later renamed Mano Bantu. A success in São Paulo and Rio, with a Warner record, the band played at major festivals, backing stars such as Owen Grey and Jackie Brown, or sharing the stage with other big names in Jamaican music, such as Culture, U. Roy, The Itals, Justin Hinds and the English singer Sylvia Tella. At the same time, Gerson continued his studio work, recording with fellow Maranhenses Zeca Baleiro and Rita Ribeiro. As a producer, he signed works with Dagô Miranda & Radical Roots and Santa Cruz among others. The variety of Gerson’s influences matters a lot. Besides Brazilian music — he started on the guitar... — he is always at ease in African and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, mixing concepts from jazz and rhythm´n´blues. Based in Rio, with long stays in São Paulo, Gerson increasingly drinks from rock and hip hop. Mano Bantu broke up not long ago, frustrating the bets of many people. Now, with the Feijoada Dub project, Gerson da Conceição rescues his basic kitchen, in a formation that includes drums, guitar, keyboards and a sound engineer — who promises some live dub-sessions. The show at Radiola Bumba Beat is the first presentation of the new group. From ska to rock steady, from reggae to dancehall, Gerson da Conceição will deliver a performance with great Jamaican classics, such as “Duppy Conqueror”, “Money in my Pocket”, “My Cup” and other rousing grooves. “It’s what I like and know how to do.” The band is formed by: Gerson da Conceição (vocals and bass), Edu Zappa (keyboards), Tico (guitar), Bagão (drums) and Buguinha (sound engineer).

EVENT DATA

 Location: PABOTIM BAR  Address: Rua Fradique Coutinho 888 (corner with Inácio Pereira da Rocha) - Vila Madalena - São Paulo - SP  Phones: (11) 3813-2956  Prices: R$ 5 at the door + R$ 5 consumption  Men - R$ 5 at the door + R$ 5 consumption  Women - free until midnight, then R$ 5 cover  When: Every Thursday, starting at 10 PM Air conditioning Access for people with disabilities, with adapted restroom Vallet Service parking - R$ 7,00 Accepts Reservations Cheque (upon consultation) or cash

PRESS

 Who: Bruno Lancellotti  Email: bruno@radiolarecords.com.br  Phone: (11) 9710-9479