It’s almost
impossible to find music from New Orleans or Brazil that doesn’t have some
connection to their respective Carnival traditions, featuring parades, call and
response, roaring and rapid percussion, and most importantly - revelry! As
Scott Kettner, band leader, describes, “Our goal with Carnival Caravan is to
expose our fans to the traditional music of these cultural celebrations. Most people aren’t aware of the Maracatu or
Mardi Gras Indian traditions, and we want to bring this to our fans in the most
interactive, enjoyable way - with our own particular twist of course” With
their deliciously original sound and energy, they want to show audiences that
there’s “more to the New Orleans party than just hanging out on Bourbon Street
getting drunk.” Featuring musicians and party starters from Brazil, Brooklyn
and The Big Easy, the project is naturally intertwined with movement and
travel. Kettner’s partners include front woman Fabiana Masili, a soaring
powerhouse vocalist and rising Brazilian star with a commanding stage presence
and raucous, versatile guitarist Jules Belmont. The band is further propelled
by fluid, animated bassist Chris Venditti and Brazilian percussionist Fernando
Saci. When they hit the road together to tour it’s literally a caravan: “a
Carnival party on wheels!”
Nation Beat
has shared the stage with artists such as Willie Nelson, Stanton Moore (of
Galactic) and the legendary Maracatu Nação Estrela Brillante from Recife,
Brazil. Nelson heard the group via an NPR segment in 2008, the invited them to
play at his Farm Aid concert. “Hanging with Willie Nelson was a very
overwhelming experience” says Scott. “He's an American icon and has been one of
my musical heroes since I was a kid. Willie was very encouraging towards us and
also very genuine. After playing with us his manager told me that he hasn't
seen Willie smile so much on stage in a long time.” When asked about Nation Beat, The Red Headed
Stranger enthused “Just a fantastic group.
I was overwhelmed”.
Their
recording project and subsequent tour with Maracatu Nação Estrela Brillante
(“Maracatu Nation Bright Star”), titled “A Tale of Two Nations”, earned raves
from the likes of The New York Times and
The Village Voice. The latter stated that Nation Beat is “globe-spinning,
dangerously funky…Sure they're rooted in a mash-up of big-booming Brazilian
maracatu rhythms and the percolating rat-tat-tat of New Orleans second
line...But dig a little deeper and you'll find the downhome whine of Southern-fried
slide guitar, deep country melodies and beaming zydeco flavors.” The
American/Brazilian collective also counts NPR’s Banning Eyre as a fan, calling
them “the most original and alluring fusion group I have heard in years.”
In 2002,
Scott began teaching maracatu percussion classes in New York to bring the
rhythm he was so passionate about broader recognition and to build a community
and an audience around it. In 2006 and
again in 2008 he brought twenty students to Recife, Brazil to perform at
Carnival, the country’s grandest and culturally resonant celebration. Scott
created a cultural exchange program that over time saw Maracatu New York evolve
into a top-notch professional percussion group that has inspired countless
other groups and artists worldwide.
Scott met
Spy Boy “Honey” Banister and fellow percussionist Joe Gellini of Cha Wa in New
Orleans during a undoubtedly rowdy Mardi Gras parade. Honey, a traditional
Mardi Gras Indian, leads the band with joyful flair, and his intricate suit,
fashioned with beads, feathers, and sequins is an immediate show stopper
wherever he performs.
“Many
artists in the world music field jump around from country to country over the
span of their career,” Scott muses. “But I haven’t nudged an inch. Brazil and New Orleans have remained my
source of inspiration for more than 10 years.” As an American and Brazilian
collective, Nation Beat truly belongs to both sides of the equator. Look out
for the “Carnival Caravan” coming to your market this summer!
North
American Tour Dates
June 27 @
SOBs - New York City, NY
July 8th @
Carl Schurz Park - NYC, NY
July
11th-12th @ SunFest - London, ON
July 14th @
PanAm Games - Toronto, ON
July 30th @
Huntington Summer Arts Festival - Huntington, NY
July 31st @
Littlefield - Brooklyn, NY
Aug 1st @
Queens Library - Queens, NY
Aug 2 @
Summer Stage - New York City, NY (with Nação Zumbi)
Aug 8th @
Musikfest - Bethlehem, PA
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