Kriola Collective

A snapshot of the 1970's Black Rio Samba, Soul and Funk movement in Brazil.

Featuring vocalists Marcelo D’Avila & Merenia Marin and an 11 PIECE ALL STAR BAND!!

Following many amazing nights at Camelot, 10 piece Brazilian Big Band Kriola Collective celebrate the end of winter by returning to conquer the dance floor with an explosive set of Brazilian infused Soul, Funk and Brassy Samba from the Black Rio movement.

A unique 10 piece band, 'Kriola Collective' features some of Sydney's best musicians playing a snapshot of the 1970's Black Rio Samba, Soul and Funk movement from the Carnival capitol of Rio. The band's repertoire includes a classic mix of groovy Brazilian beats from well known Brazilian artists such as Jorge Ben, Seu Jorge, Banda Black Rio, Tim Maia, Di Melo, Bebeto and Joao Donato.

Stemming from the well known 'I like it like that Orchestra', Kriola Collective features some of Sydney's best Funk, Soul and Brazilian players from groups such as Banda Black Rio, Burn the Floor, Oba Oba, Mucho Mambo, Jackie Orzasky, Cumbiamuffin and Sambasoul and perform a sizzling, seductive, and syncopated snapshot of the 1970’s in Brazil.

After huge performances at the Basement, Bluesfest, Darling Harbour Fiesta and Sydney Festival Becks Bar they have become a Camelot favourite with their fusion of Brazilian Soul, Funk, Capoeira, Olodun and Rio Carnival Samba.

The Black Rio movement began in the late '60s and '70s, the funk and soul music of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and many other African American superstars sparked a cultural awakening of black pride around the world. In Brazil that awakening expressed itself in the music of young people of colour from Rio to São Paulo, who ‘Brazilianised’ those North American styles into their own groove thang. The result was a musical movement called Samba Soul. The genre emphasized snappy backbeats, deep and funky bass lines, and jazz horn sections with tinges of salsa and homegrown samba.

James Brown was an inspirational figure for young black Brazilians and his sound sowed the seeds for the Brazilian style ‘Baile Funk’. Along with soul music, ‘traditional’ funk was picked up and taken to the hearts of kids in the major cities of Brazil in the 1970s as an entirely new and thrilling sound inaccessible via the predominantly white, middle class-controlled media. Unusually in a city of such rich live musical history, the pioneering Banda Black Rio were one of the few domestic purveyors of the 70s funk sound taking the city by storm, a group assembled by Soul Grand Prix from the best musicians around to capitalize on the popularity of the music. Other famous artists of Brazilian Soul and Funk were Jorge Ben, Tim Maia, Di Melo, Bebeto and Dom Salvador.

A celebration of Soul, Funk and Samba 1970’s Brazilian style!