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Ginga and Ginga Grande: Home

Audience II

Founded by Francisco Marques and Greg LaLiberte, Ginga has been playing Brazilian music in Colorado since 2004. The group specializes in the sounds of Rio playing pagode de mesa, chorinho, samba, bossa nova, and Brazilian jazz. Along with Bill Kopper, Colorado's premier jazz guitarist, and the incomparable Brazilian drumming of Raoul Rossiter, a Ginga show can span the breadth of concert performance to party, from fine listening music to dancing and singing with the band, the latter emphasizing the spirit of community so evident in Brazilian music. At home playing festivals, concert halls, clubs, parties, wine bars, and coffee houses, Ginga is dedicated to the sounds of Brazil and sharing the energy inherent in the music. Ginga has also founded Ginga Grande, playing pagode and forro, and Bateria Alegria, a thirty-piece samba batucada percussion ensemble devoted to the street carnaval music of Brazil.

Ginga Grande is a nine-piece ensemble playing "back yard samba," typically roda de samba style. Most in the group play percussion, all sing. The sound is lively and engaging. With a standing monthly gig at the Laughing Goat in Boulder, CO, the group is attracting a large, dedicated following. Francisco is our lead singer and cavaquinho player.

Bateria Alegria, under the musical direction of Carl Dixon, is the centerpiece of the newly formed Boulder Samba School. Offering classes in samba batucada, pagode, forro, and samba dance, the school is operating as a non-profit. Through its class offerings, workshops, clinics, and performances, we want to spread the joy of Brazilian music and culture throughout the region and across the country.