Samba Dreams

I've been dreaming of Samba - and I don't want to stop. Tonight I will go back to samba drum practice, and I know I will be able to hold the rhythm and keep the beat for more than one and a half measures.

I pushed my way into the drumming - pushed through my own reluctance and insecurities and embarrassment - and pushed my way through the door and found Samba Tremeterra on the other side of the door, pulling me in. I have so much to learn, but I can feel it inside when the drums begin pounding, and I know its real.

On July 4th, I showed up at the studio in Somerville early in the morning, thinking that I would simply be a roadie for the Samba troupe - packing their drums in my station wagon, and helping them set up for the parade. But Deraldo had scheduled the troupe for two different parades, and only half the troupe came to Natick, while the rest went straight to Pepperell (we would meet them later). When we got to staging area at the beginning of the parade route, Deraldo told me to get on the back of the flat bed truck, behind the snares and behind the bass drums, because he needed me to play the Rocar.

So I shook the Rocar and swayed with the beat and watched the crowd as we passed them - smiling and dancing and clapping and cheering - and the look of shock and awe and excitement as our dancers would go into the crowd to pull people out into the street to dance with them - anyone that wiggled their hips or shook their shoulders was fair game for Rachel and Randi, who would dance up to them and shimmy and shake.

I've been dreaming of drums and dancing and samba and now I don't ever want it to stop.

Next Saturday, July 11, Samba Tremeterra will perform in Providence as part of the Sound Session Street Festival (276 Westminster Street) - I will be there - either in the background, lugging equipment, or standing in the crowd cheering and dancing, or maybe (if I'm lucky) on stage, hiding behind the bass drums with a Rocar in my hands.

http://www.sambatremeterra.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/werkperson
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129570039664&ref=mf
http://www.providencesoundsession.com/