BURBANK, CA. (www.braziliannites.com) - This time Brazilian Carnaval in Southern Califonia happens on Saturday, February 12, 2005, The celebration happens one week after Brazil's own carnavals in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, marking the beginning of the Lenten season. At the heart of the 2005 celebration is JORGE BEN JOR, performing his vibrant and energetic music at the AQUADOME by the QUEEN MARY in Long Beach. The party, which starts at 8:00 p.m., also features M.I.L.A. Samba School performing carnaval rhythms from Rio de Janeiro, Katia Moraes & Pure Samba with Marchinhas, Sambas, Forro and the OYA Samba Show Dancers moving to batucada rhythms in their feather-sequined bikini costumes.
Jorge Ben Jor's music, after Tom Jobim, may be the most recognized outside of Brazil. Forty years after its first recording, his classic "Mas, Que Nada" continues to be heard throughout the world, from advertising themes and movie soundtracks to spins by hip club DJs. Recorded worldwide by over 100 different artists, "Mas, Que Nada" is the only song completely in Portuguese to be taken to the top of the American charts (by
Sergio Mendes in the sixties).
The AQUADOME (once the home of the famous Spruce Goose)at the
Queen Mary is a fully interactive live multimedia entertainment facility, with 70,000 sq.ft. of dance floor, large stage, V.I.P. Glass Lounge, view of the show from all tables, equipped with state of the art sound system and light.
In the seventies,
Jorge Ben Jor (then known only as
Jorge Ben) found considerable success in Europe, and if you believe the legend, the refrain from his "Taj Mahal" was plagiarized by
Rod Stewart for the international hit "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" In Brazil, artists of every style have recorded his songs, as funk, Bossa Nova, samba, sertaneja, forrs, heavy metal and rap, and his songs are standards on the mobile sound systems of Carnaval, the "Trio El?tricos." As samba schools are integral to the carnaval in Rio, trio el?trico groups are a big part of the celebration in Bahia. A perfect reflection of his fusion of rhythms is in one of his lyrics…"esse samba que ? misto de maracatu" (This samba is a mixed with Maractu).
Katia Moraes & Pure Samba performs a perfect blend of dynamic harmonies and exhilarating rhythms, the best of the Brazilian Carnaval. The band enchants audiences with the richest sounds of Brazil; a mix of samba, marchinhas (traditional carnaval sambas), pagode, and frevo. Katia's energetic presence beautifully complimented by the explosive power of percussion, and outstanding keyboards, guitar and bass. Los Angeles Times quote "... She comes on stage like an explosion, her body in constant motion, her voice excited and dynamic."
M.I.L.A. Samba School (Mocidade Independente Los Angeles) headed by president and director Luiz Ferreira, a musician from Rio de Janeiro, founded this school 18 years ago. This samba school is a 20-piece percussion troupe of the best samba performers of Los Angeles with the goal to provide the authentic Brazilian Samba Show with the high level energy of its beat and contagious happiness that you can find only in Rio de Janeiro's original Samba Schools. They will be parading and simulating the street carnaval throughout the party.
Samba schools are integral to Rio's carnaval and compete in the Samba School
Parade for the distinction of winning top honors. Not to be mistaken as a teaching institution, a samba school is an association of people from the same neighborhood, usually a popular community (favela) or suburban area. After nine months of work and preparation for the parade, samba schools are judged by the quality and capabilities of their sambistas (samba dancers and singers), costumes, floats, bateria (percussion band), theme song and more. Each school may include 3,000 to 5,000 members and 6 to 8 floats in the parade.
The OYA Brazil Samba Show Dancers, led by director-choreographer Daniela, complete the party as they offer its audiences a visual feast with extravagant performances of samba, lambada, pagode, and capoeira, a traditional martial arts dance. Comprised of a diverse team of talented dancers, this local ensemble of 15 radiates with sheer energy and passion.
Brazilian Carnaval 2005 will be airing the carnaval from Rio de Janeiro on big screens all night long, courtesy of Dish Network and TV Globo (Brazilian's main TV Channel). This will give people the opportunity to experience the real thing while celebrating miles away from Rio de Janeiro. Also, all ages are welcome, after all Carnaval in Brazil is for everyone.
A trip to Rio de Janeiro will be given away, courtesy of Varig Brazilian Airlines. Costumes are welcome! Participants are allowed and encouraged to bring cameras to the event. Authentic Brazilian food as well as crafts, clothing and a variety of Brazilian items will be available for purchase. The official Master of Ceremonies of the Carnaval is
Radio Host,
Sergio Mielniczenko from the Global Village of KPFK 90.7 FM.
Patricia and Gilberto Leao from Brazilian Nites Productions have been producing quality events with the best of Brazilian talent directly from Brazil since 1990.
Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Salvation Army in Asia to help out with the victims of the resent tragedy of the Sunami.
Admission to Brazilian Carnaval 2005 is for all ages. Advance tickets are $35 for general admission, $45 for reserved table seating and $60 for VIP reserved table seating plus group discounts are available by calling (818) 566-1111. General Admission tickets can also be purchased in the following places:
Kitanda Brazilian Market (818)995-7422 - Sherman Oaks
Brazil
Mania (310)212-6040 - Torrance
El Camaguey Meat Market (310) 839-4037
El Gaucho Meat Market (310) 297-2617 - Redondo Beach
El Gaucho II (714) 776-6400 - Anaheim
Neutral Grounds Brazilian JIU-JITSU (562) 856-1615 - Long Beach
Brazusa Brazilian Market (323) 342-9422
Or by calling (818) 566-1111 / www.BrazilianNites.com
Tickets can also be purchased on line through www.Pelourinho.com. Tickets, if available, will also be sold on the day of the event at the
Queen Mary from noon on for an additional $5.00 of regular prize. The
Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California 90802. Parking on site is available for a fee.
This event is sponsored in part by Remy Martin, Varig Brazilian Airlines, Dish Network and TV Globo, REMO Inc., Pelourinho.com, Soul Brazil, Brazilian Pacific Times, Margot Tours, KJAZZ 88.1 FM, KPFK 90.7 FM.
https://www.braziliannites.com For photos, video, interviews and more information,
Contact
Patricia Leao
(818) 567-0641
[email protected] 
