Portalensas play ukulele near Made in Brasil

Following a show at Casa Brasil, Somerset House, a group of sambistas from the famous Portela samba school in Rio came down to Inverness Street Camden and played in the street for a while. Not far away at the Camden Town tube entrance there were Friday night buskers, one beatboxing with a small PA and another playing Didgeridoo with a Djembe and a Foot-cymbal. The Portela guys were singing, rapping and making beats with a couple of tan-tans, repeniques and tamborim. One tried playing the ukulele I had with me, but comparing it to a cavaquinho, did not much like the tuning or the nylon strings - nevertheless we all sang a few songs. With Danielle accompanying on vocal, I played a tune for Agnès who was to leave London for France after the Olympic Games. We discussed next Wednesday's Ukulele flash mob. Åke, an LSS sambista who was visiting as a cuiciero for the Olympic closing ceremony, played a version of Pega no Ganza - Festa Para um Rei Negro on the ukulele.

Afterwards, Jeremy Shaverin joined the group of Portalensas in the basement to jam with the Cavaquinho - the Brazilian ukulele...

Tricity Vogue and I at the Harrison

Set of photos by Craig Richmond (album)

Husky

I have often practised with the samba band at Husky Studios in Elephant and Castle. Last night I went there for a special group for a friend's wedding anniversary and played cavaquinho (the Brazilian Ukulele) with an experienced guitarist, a couple of horns and several percussionists. We did a samba reggae version of a Clash song, a London samba enredo (Africa Negra) and a version of Aquarela do Brasil (in B flat). It was a challenge sight reading the chords, but even more so, at one point, trying to simultaneously transpose up one key with the guitarist!

Tricity Vogue... and Keith

Tricity Vogue and friends at the Harrison in King's Cross




Keith the anger management Koala

The Music Industry Universe

I passed by bass player friend from Estrela de Londres standing in Dukes Road in front of The Place, as I was cycling through King's Cross this summer morning. That inspired me to appear online in the form of this micro-blog. In future I will develop bookings, performances and collaborations from October 2012. 

Yesterday I was considering my place as a tiny satellite in a far-away galaxy in the music industry universe, at a workshop led by Kwaku of BritishBlackMusic.com at Platform in Hornsey Road, Islington.

Performing Right Society