Member Since: 5/6/2006
Band Website: sambaelegua.com
Band Members: Director: Jonathan Rothman. Director of Special Projects: David Arcus. Founding Director: Itay (Ty) Keshet. Recent Past Managing Director: Raphi Roter. BAND: We play in sections: shakers, bells (agogos, salsa bells), tamborims, surdos and caixas, plus the leader/whistle on repenique, and we do have sectional leaders and facilitators as well as members who have played in the group since it began nearly five years ago. More than 100 individual, wonderful souls have rotated through this collective, with a large Toronto-centred base and a recurring cast of cool kids who throw it down. Stay Tuned to our Web site for a page for all members who have rocked it with us, and who still do, and who would like to check it out!
Influences: Samba batucada, samba reggae, samba-funk breaks plus rhythmic experimentations, fusions and innovations drawing on various Carribean, Cuban, west African, Middle Eastern and north American tidbits. From dancehall to polka, Masmoodi touches to Bossa beats, we've been known to play around. Breaks. We like breaks. No DJs involved in ours though ... so far.
Sounds Like: While we may share open approaches with other samba-derived groups worldwide, our particular innovations on the bateria formation are unique. Collaborations and Affiliations: Rich Underhill and the Kensington Community Horns/ The New Kings (we share stages but also form (like Voltron) into the Re-Evolution Day Arkestra along with them), residents MC Esef on dancehall ragga and Rick on accordion, and others.Events around Toronto include Reclaim The Streets, Pedestrian Sundays in Kensington Market, Night of Dread parade, Toronto Pride parade, Cherry Beach Sundays, Darfur actions incl. Day for Darfur, Motionball gala (Special Olympics fundraiser), Canadian Book Expo gala, Toronto Island Party, World Car-Free Day, Nonviolence Festival and the Cannabis Week Festival.The group has University of Toronto Student Affairs Council group status.
Type of Label: None