Samba Elégua is the eclectic hippy/raver/activist samba bateria from the depths of the Toronto’s flipside. Picture a bit of Burning Man inspiration and a bit of idealist “take back the streets” university educated  youth with a passion for parties and drums. Ok maybe I’m blatantly simplifying a very diverse group of people but if you know the references above and you know Samba Elégua, you might understand what I’m getting at.

Samba Elégua is not necessarily Brazilian samba. In fact to a samba purist, they don’t play “Rio style” samba at all, but the samba rhythm is their original frame of reference. Without a doubt, they totally embody the spirit of samba. And while they do play a couple of samba grooves, they also mix in samba-reggae, funk, dancehall and a whole mess of original rhythmic creations. They are known to have an emcee that raps along and they have a stage arrangement that includes the Kensington Horns. Their “leaders” work mostly in a group consensus style, and people who play with them never make money off the gigs. The collective works to “empower cooperative musical learning, and bring rump-shaking funk to the streets.” They’ve played everywhere from warehouse parties and nightclubs to Promise Cherry Beach Parties to an enormous amount of parades and street parties. You can add a 2 minute gig with OutKast and an opening slot for Maestro to their list.

Their strength comes from their street credibility. More than simply a cultural showcase drum troupe for hire, they are active participants in cultural manifestations “of the people for the people.”

The group was founded in 2001 by Ty Keshet and some friends. Ty left the Toronto Escola de Samba with just one year of experience and founded (at the time) the “University of Toronto Samba School” as a cool alternative Samba group who actually played in community events and the cool underground rave scene that was going on in Toronto in early 2001. The group soon took the name Samba Elégua and henceforth went with it. No member had really ever been to Brazil, but equipped with some samba drum knowledge, they made the music happen for free at social justice rallies and events around the city.

some members at Cherry beach

Samba Elégua’s participation was key in several events around Toronto. They were there from the beginning of the Pedestrian Sundays in Kensington Market (PSK). Even before the one-off Kensington Harvest festival (considered the pre-cursor to PSK), Ty led the group in a big Reclaim the Streets parade where he met Shamez, one of the driving forces behind the Kensington car free sundays. During this time band member David Arcus wrote some musical arrangements for a collaborative project with the Kensington Horns led by Richard Underhill. In 2004 they released a cd with these arrangements, recorded live at a PSK show. After Ty left the group to live and study in Australia, its artistic direction was taken by caixa (snare) player Raphi Roter, who brought new energy to the project with some new original arrangements and some killer shekere playing.  After Raphi left to study elsewhere in Canada in 2007, it came to pass that Jonathan Rothman and Jon Medow took over as musical co-directors. Dave Arcus wrote some new arrangements for the horns, this time for a corporate event called the Motionball, a Special Olympicss fundraiser. Later these arrangements became the basis for Samba Elégua’s Uma Nota show at the Gladstone. Uma Nota is itself a cultural mainstay in Toronto. Live music acts with a percussive base and wicked djs combine for a really good unpretentious party.

Today Elégua keeps the vibe alive, playing for the people, at social street manifestations and community parties. All is done through the collaboration of various members. And… as mentioned in our previous blog post, they will play at Revival on NYE 2010.

Elégua with Micheal J at Earthday 2007

http://torontoist.com/2008/05/phototo_pedestrian_sunday.php?gallery0Pic=2#gallery

Jonathan Rothman, this guy plays in 4 drum groups, plays capoeira, works a day job, and is looking for 30 more things to do with his time

their myspace, facebook, youtube channel,

Samba Elégua at Uma Nota, playing Canto Sideral by Ile Aiye  with Cris Gloria.

go Elégua

Alex Bordokas with Jonathan Rothman providing some info.