Colorado Brazil Fest (CBF) is the largest festival of its kind in Colorado, and also one of the largest in the nation, with 1500-2000 participants each year. Colorado Brazil Fest is hosted by Boulder Samba School, the only organization in the state dedicated to promoting the rich heritage of Brazilian music, dance, and culture, with a track record of engaging thousands of local residents in performances and educational music programs since its inception in 2009.

Friday, August 12
6 pm – Choro & Forró Night
The Dexter Payne Quintet plays Brazilian choro jazz, a tradition with roots in the 19th century, which inspired and influenced the birth of samba and bossa nova. Still very much alive in Brazil today, choro has a creative and evolving northern outpost in DPQ. Band: Dexter Payne (Clarinet), Bill Kopper (6 & 7 string guitar), Raoul Rossiter (Drums & percussion), Dave Willey (Accordion), and Victor Mestas (Piano)

Ronaldo Andrade: One of the most talented U.S.-based Brazilian samba entertainers! Originally hailing from São Paulo, Ronaldo performs with his group Turma do Samba in the NYC metro and surrounding regions, and has been a faculty member at the famous California Brazil Camp since 2011. Band: Victor Mestas (Piano), Raoul Rossiter (drums, percussion), Carl Dixon (Percussion), Francisco Marques (Cavaquinho, Bass, Vocals), Bill Kopper (Guitar)

Saturday, August 13
4 pm – Bossa Nova, MPB, and Brazilian Jazz
Originally from São Paulo and now based in Denver, versatile vocalist Gui Kroneberger has spent over 20 years performing in both Brazil and North America. Her musical style, crystal voice, and the crowd-lifting energy she brings give a special touch to her repertoire which includes classic and new Popular Brazilian Music (“MBP”), bossa nova, forró, and axé genres.

Michele Castro hails originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As vocalist and guitarist, she began to play internationally when invited to perform two tours of Germany with a Choro/Samba band as lead singer. Her vocal repertoire includes Samba, Bossa Nova, Brazilian Pop & Rock, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), Choro and Forró. She also plays a variety of Brazilian percussion instruments. Michele loves exploring the Colorado music scene and sharing her culture and music with a new public.

6 pm – Carnaval with Ginga, Ronaldo Andrade, Quenia Ribeiro and Bateria Alegria
Ginga: Cultivated in Boulder, Colorado and composed of some of the best jazz, classical and salsa musicians on the Front Range, Ginga is the powerhouse Brazilian band in Colorado. Ginga has been dazzling audiences with the captivating rhythms and energy of traditional Brazilian music for over a decade. Band: Francisco Marques (cavaquinho, bass, percussion, vocals), Greg LaLiberte (flute, saxophones, percussion, vocals), Bill McCrossen (Bass), Bill Kopper (acoustic 6 & 7 string guitars, electric guitar, vocals), Raoul Rossiter (drums, percussion, vocals), Carl Dixon (percussion, vocals), and Vincent Gonzalez (percussion, vocals).

Ronaldo Andrade: With his background in Samba and deep interest in other traditional Brazilian music genres, Ronaldo brings an unparalleled and unconventional interpretation of the traditional samba and forró tunes.

Quenia Ribeiro: Quenia Ribeiro is a dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor from Rio de Janeiro Brazil with over 25 years of experience in the field. Quenia has performed Samba and Afro Brazilian Dance in Greece, Martinique, Portugal, Brazil, and throughout the United States.

Bateria Alegria is the primary performing ensemble of the Boulder Samba School, composed of 20-30 percussionists and led by Music Director Carl Dixon. The ensemble plays percussion-based styles of music from Rio de Janeiro (samba batucada) and Salvador (samba reggae). The music incorporates a mixture of African, European, and indigenous influences and traditions.

Escola de Samba Denver with Bella Diva: Escola de Samba Denver is the newest international addition to the original Escola de Samba Sydney in Australia, directed by renowned performing artist and instructor Sashya Jay. Escola de Samba Denver carries on Escola de Samba Sydney’s dedication to providing progressive Brazilian dance education that is aligned with the latest and evolving dance techniques and artistic styles in Brazil, with authenticity and respect for the roots of the culture at its core.

Full Schedule – Colorado Brazil Fest

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