‘A Rhythmic World’ to Feature Brazilian Percussionist April 18 at UW

World-class Brazilian percussionist Jorge Alabê brings the rich musical culture of his home country to the University of Wyoming this month as a performing artist and master teacher.

The UW Samba Bateriá will feature Alabê in “A Rhythmic World” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18. The free public program will be in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall.

In conjunction with the concert, two free community dance and percussion workshops will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, and from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, both in the Performing Arts concert hall.

For more information, interested participants should email Andy Wheelock, a UW Department of Music assistant professor, at awheeloc@uwyo.edu.

Alabê, a master drummer now based in San Francisco, grew up in Rio de Janeiro and immersed himself in the rich musical culture of Brazil, becoming a master in samba percussion and in the Afro-Brazilian religious tradition of candomblé. He is an “Alabê” connected with the oldest candomblé house established in Brazil -- Casa Branca. The title “Alabê” indicates that he has attained the highest level in drumming and in the leading of rituals in the candomblé religion. It also signifies deep experience and authority.

His talents have taken him around the world as director of percussion with the legendary performing company Oba Oba. He has played percussion with the highest-level samba groups in Rio de Janeiro, and he has served as rhythm director of Minas Gerais Samba School in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Alabê has performed in recordings with Brazilian stars Milton Nascimento and Martinho da Vila, and he has appeared on the Globo television program “Brasil Pandeiro.”

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.