Pernambuco is a small and dry state in the northeast of Brazil with a long background of political dissidence and an amazing diversity of traditional musics and specific rhythms such as the Maracatus, the Cocos, the Ciranda, the Baião, the Forró, the Frevo, the Caboclos and many others. Brought to a larger audience after 1960's recordings by Jackson do Pandeiro and Luiz Gonzaga, those rhythms unfortunately remain far less known than the famous swinging samba and bossa nova from Rio de Janeiro or the powerfull afro drumings from Bahia.

Mestre Ambrósio is the name of a character from the "Cavalo Marinho", a street play from Pernambuco. A symbol of diversity, he represents many diferent characters through dance steps, improvisations and masks. This diversity defines the music of Mestre Ambrósio-band and the popular cultures of Pernambuco, a mix of native indian, african and european influences.

Who knows about brasilian contemporary music won't deny that it was in Pernambuco where the most relevant musical experiences happened in the 1990's: it started with Chico Science, Lenine and Mestre Ambrósio, each one with their specific approach but all of them motivated to show the best of their home region's culture. After one decade, there are hundreds of bands and other artistical projects in the whole brazilian northeast waving the flag of this "Mangue Beat" art movement as well as a renewed interest of younsters in almost lost traditions.

The purpose of Mestre Ambrósio is to make quality music joining modern vibes to traditional rhythms. Played with perfection on specific instruments such as the Rabeca (fiddle), the Fole (an 8 bass acordeon), indian flutes and a large collection of percussions, the result is a "Forró Pé de Calçada", rural music with urban feelings. The best critics don't lie: In the tradition of carnival joy and popular "forró" bals, the band's show is an irresistible invitation to dance and enjoy diferent rhythms from Brazil.

In 10 years, after relevant colaborations (Lenine, Suba, Zuco 103…) and soundtracks ("Central do Brasil", "Baile Perfumado", "Auto da Compadecida"…), the 3 CD's show the evolution of Mestre Ambrósio's work: the debut album "Mestre Ambrósio" (1994), produced by today's stars Lenine and Suzano, has a rooty sound and is licensed in europe by Buda Musique. The second album "Fuá na Casa de Cabral" (1999), produced by the genial late-Suba who gave a subtile touch of electronic to their rustic sound, has been awarded as brazilian "album of the year 2000" by The New York Times' Jon Pareles. The third CD "Terceiro Samba" (2001) is now being aclaimed as the maturity album, back to totally acoustic recording, minimum effects for maximum results.

After a promissing japanese debut tour in september 2002, and various mid size tours in europe and north america since 1996, time has come to Mestre Ambrósio step forward and show a wider audience their lesson of culture mixing, "this jewel that resumes what we expect from that so-called "world music" (Jacques Dennis-Vibrations). World's Kitchen garantees the presence of Mestre Ambrósio in europe to participate of the Womex fair 2002.

Web Site: www.mestreambrosio.com.br


Discography:
Mestre Ambrósio, 1996, Buda Musique for Europe and Japan
Terreiro Discos for Brasil
Fuá na Casa de Cabral, 1999, Sony Brasil and Sony Japan, Import in Europe
Terceiro Samba, 2001, Sony Brasil, Import in Europe

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