Clifton Center to Host Concert by Mike Tracy Brazilian Ensemble on January 29th

The Clifton Center, 2117 Payne Street, will host a concert by the Mike Tracy Brazilian Ensemble on Thursday, January 29th at 7:30pm. The five piece band celebrates the music of Brazilian masters, as well as contemporary artists. Tickets are $10 each and are available at Carmichael’s Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Avenue, or online at cliftoncenter.org.

The Mike Tracy Brazilian specializes in performing the many varied styles and rhythms that are unique to Brazil. It is led by saxophonist Mike Tracy, Director of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Studies Program at the University of Louisville, and features Brazilians musicians pianist Diego Lyra Medieros and bassist Andrey Junca Goncalves. Joining the group are guitarist Brandon Coleman and drummer/percussionist Zack Kennedy (who studied in Brazil for an extended time). Music by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Moacyr Santos, João Donato, Gilberto Gil, Egberto Gismonti, Djalma Ferreira, Dominguinhos and more will be performed.

Brazilian music is the result of the fusion of European music brought by the Portuguese, African music that came with the slaves in the 16th century, and native Indian music that was already an established form on the continent when the colonization process started. Although often confused with the Spanish influenced music from Central America like the calypso, rumba, salsa and other variations, Brazilian music is very different. The rhythms are far more subtle and developed from geographical regions within the country. These very diverse regions, with their cultural differences, influenced Brazil’s exciting music and musicians. For example the BossaNova is from the southeastern European influenced region, while Samba, Baião, Partido-alto, and Afoxé are the main rhythms from the north and northeastern regions which are rich in African culture and based on dance, percussion, and wind instruments. During the 1960’s, Brazilian-influenced music became well known all over the United States. The Bossa-Nova was popularized by jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. Through Getz, the music of Brazil’s most famous composer Antonio Carlos Jobim (Tom Jobim) became an important influence on American music and music throughout the world.

The Clifton Center’s programming is made possible by the help of generous supporters, such as: MINI of Louisville, Louisville Metro Government, West Sixth Brewing Company, DD Williamson, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Republic Bank, Joe Hayden Real Estate Team, 91.9 WFPK and the Friends of the Clifton Center. The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, also provides operating support to the Clifton Center with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, please visit www.CliftonCenter.org or call (502) 896-8480.

ABOUT THE CLIFTON CENTER
The Clifton Center, located at 2117 Payne Street, is an historic facility that serves as a gathering place for art, culture and ideas that enrich our community. Housed in a renovated former school building, the Center is home to the studios of artists Martin Rollins and Lucretia Beatty, the Ballet Arts and Yuric-Amari Dance studios, the Louisville Visual Art Association’s LVAA @ the Clifton Center art education studio, a UofL off-campus classroom, and the administrative offices of the Colon Cancer Prevention Project.