Ivo Araujo is a native carioca - born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, home of the world's most famous carnival. A master percussionist and samba dancer, Ivo has performed both in Brazil and in the U.S.A.
Blessed with a mother who loved samba and Rio's carnival, Ivo was introduced to this wonderful world of rhythm, color and music at age five. While he was growing up, Ivo spent a lot of time at the samba schools, the large social clubs that make up Rio's carnival parades. At the rehearsals of Portela - one of Rio's oldest and most beloved samba schools - he learned to dance by watching the passistas - the master solo samba dancers. When he finally got the courage to get up and dance himself, it was if he has been dancing the samba for years - his feet were moving so fast you could hardly see them. Immediately he was invited to join Portela's carnival parade. From then on he dedicated himself to perfecting his technique.
But most of all, Ivo was enchanted by the baterias - the samba school percussion groups - and after watching and imitating them by playing with his hands, he was ready to jump in and try a real instrument. Before long, he was playing all the instruments - caixa, surdo, repinique, tamborim, agogô, chocalho, frigideira, colher (a specialty of the samba school Vila Isabel), pandeiro, reco-reco and cuíca - and playing them well. For many years, he took part in the yearly carnival parades in Rio, both as percussionist and passista.
Later on, Ivo brought his talent to the U.S., where he has generously contributed his knowledge to Americans and others interested in learning samba, and has spent his time teaching, playing and touring. When he first came to New York City, he put an ambitious Brazilian samba show together featuring dancers, singers, and musicians. The show had a successful eight-month run at a nightclub in Queens.
Ivo and Amy Duncan, jazz pianist/composer/arranger, founded Manhattan Samba (aka União da Ilha de Manhattan), New York's premier samba group, in 1990.
Manhattan Samba, New York's longest-running authentic Brazilian samba drum ensemble, has been delivering its irresistible, energetic, driving rhythms to dance floors around New York for over a decade.
The all-percussion ensemble is a traditional Brazilian bateria, based on the drum groups that accompany the yearly carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro.
Manhattan Samba is directed by Ivo Araujo, a master percussionist who has performed with leading samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, and was founded in 1990 by Ivo and Amy Duncan, jazz pianist, composer and leader of the band Brass Tacks.
Manhattan Samba is a truly international group, with members from Brazil, Central and South America, Europe, Japan and the U.S., all of them trained by Ivo Araujo in his weekly samba percussion classes.
April 25, 2009 - Earth Day, Grand Central Terminal, NY NY
Manhattan Samba with Gogol Bordello
June 20, 2008 - McCarren Park Pool, Brooklyn, NY
Manhattan Samba and Samba Girl, Brazilian Day 2007 NYC
thanx 4 the add! please let us know if you like our music! We hope to play with you some day! www.bandaberimbau.com< afro-brazilian percussions - batucada from Italy!
fala Ivette!!! aqui quem fala é o puxador mais empurrador da história!!! como vao as coisas? saudades... vai contando o que acontece... beijos mauro tatini
Fala ai mano, como vai as coisas ai?? Cade aquele CD do show em connecticut Capoeira e Samba. Liga pra mim ok (203) 283-1327 Casa Michel de Oliveira Um grande abraco do seu amigo de sempre
