Brasil Summerfest presents Baianasystem, Hamilton de Holanda and Xênia França at Central Park SummerStage on Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 2 pm. FREE
BaianaSystem
BaianaSystem is a Brazilian samba-reggae band from Salvador, Bahia. Their sound brings together many influences.
The Baiana is the “guitara baiana,” a small electric mandolin/guitar that was created in Bahia in the 1940s and is used in Brazilian Carnival, especially in Salvador which hosts one of the world’s great Carnival parties. The mandolin sound is essential to Portuguese music.
Salvador, the capital of Bahia, was the first Portuguese capital of Brazil. It was also the first slave port in the Americas, so Bahia is a center of Afro-Brazilian culture, or more accurately the blend of Indigenous + European + African culture that is essentially Latin.
The System is “sound system,” a reference to the huge reggae-influenced mobile DJ speaker systems used to throw parties in Jamaica, the favelas of Brazil, and around Latin America.
The band is led by Robertinho Barreto with vocals by Russo Passapusso.
It’s a really fun mix.
Love this video. The costumes are Candomblé (an Afro-Brazilian religion similar to Santería). Santería is Yoruban from the Nigeria region. Candomblé combines Yoruba and Fon beliefs from West Africa with Bantu beliefs from Central Africa. Bahia is the center of Candomblé culture.
On a side note, “Candombe” is an Afro-Uruguayan Carnival music and dance that is one of the roots of Argentine Tango. There must be some relation. It is incredible how intermixed we are.
Hamilton de Holanda
Hamilton de Holanda is a Brazilian bandolim virtuoso from Rio de Janeiro. Listen to him play. Wow!
The bandolim is a type of Brazilian mandolin used to play Choro, a happy form of popular music from Rio that sounds a bit like New Orleans Jazz, but is essentially Brazilian.
De Holanda is a multiple Latin Grammy nominee. His 2015 album Bossa Negra was nominated for “Best Samba/Pagode Album.” Samba de Chico was nominated for “Best Instrumental Album” in 2016. In 2017, he was nominated for “Producer of the Year.” He is hot.
De Holanda is leading a creative workshop at The New School on Monday, August 6.
Xênia França
Xênia França is a Baiana known for her work with the band Aláfia. She is a voice for female black power.
Baianasystem + Hamilton de Holanda + Xênia França Tickets
This is a free concert. To get in, go to Rumsey Playfield in Central Park an hour or two before showtime.
If you don’t get in, you can always listen to the concert on the grass outside Rumsey Playfield.
Visit Central Park SummerStage
Central Park SummerStage is at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. The closest Park entrance is at Fifth Ave and 69th St.
Subway
- On Manhattan’s East Side take the (4) to 77th St.
- On Manhattan’s West Side, take the (C) to 80th St and walk east across the Park.