Samba Squad

Samba Squad is a Canadian World Music Fusion group. The Squad was formed in 1999 by percussionist Rick Shadrach Lazar. [cite news |title=Rich Shadrach Lazar/Samba Squad "Samba Squad": Independent. (Northern Exposure). |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82480825.html |work=Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada |date=2001-09-22 |accessdate=2008-03-17 ] The band incorporates world rhythms performed on Brazilian Bateria drums and percussion. Their musical style combines Samba with other styles such as Salsa, Soca, Reggae and Funk. [cite news |title=The Total Experience |url=http://www.thelivemusicreport.com/2007/February/sambaSquad_feb07.html |work=The Live Music Report |date=2007-02-16 |accessdate=2008-03-17 ] Samba Squad was awarded the UMAC (Urban Music Assoc. of Canada) Award for Best World Recording of 2001 for their self-titled debut album.

Samba Squad has performed in the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Roots & Blues Festival at Salmon Arms, B.C., London's Sun Fest, Ottawa Jazz Festival and Muhtadi's International Drum Fest in Tobago. It has also performed at sporting events such as the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Argos and Blue Jays half-time shows and has many television appearances such as the Governor General's Awards CBC Television, The Toronto Show, Breakfast Television and Open Mike with Mike Bullard.

In 2004, Vision TV and BRAVO along with Riddle Films co-produced an hour documentary about the group. "Samba Squad: Drums We Love" was broadcasted on both Vision TV [cite news |title=VISIONTV Documentaries|url=http://www.visiontv.ca/Programs/documentaries_SambaSquad.html |work=http://www.visiontv.ca |date=2006-02-16 |accessdate=2008-03-18 ] and BRAVO on a second window.

Samba Squad opened for Grammy and Juno award-winning singer Sarah McLachlan and is a regular guest performer for Canadian Nuevo Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook, appearing on two of his CDs as well as his recent DVD. The group has also performed with other international acts such as Antibalas. In August 2007, Samba Squad performed at Cree Fest in Kashechewan (James Bay). ON, in celebration of the Cree culture and the community’s 50th anniversary. Samba Squad is the first group of its kind to be honored with such an invitation. While there, Samba Squad participated in ground-breaking collaborations with the Shawanda dancers.

They are a highly popular group [cite news |title=Samba Squad's percussionists 'capture joy' |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1127108531.html?dids=1127108531:1127108531&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+14%2C+2006&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=D.9&desc=Samba+Squad%27s+percussionists+%27capture+joy%27 |work=Toronto Star |date=2006-09-14 |accessdate=2008-03-17 ] well known for the energy of their live shows.

Discography

Albums

*Samba Squad (2000)
*Batuque (2006)

DVD

*Samba Squad: Drums We Love (2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.sambasquad.com Samba Squad official website]
* [http://iluvsambasquad.blogspot.com Samba Squad's blog.]