Epi 81 Brian Davis, Lions of Batucada, Pink Martini

Bio:

Brian Lavern Davis was raised in Portland, Oregon, and his musical studies have taken him to India, Japan, New York, Puerto Rico, Turkey, Jamaica, and Brazil. His teachers include Jorge Alabe, Obo Addy, Yacub Addy, Jose Ricardo Santos; Ballet Folklorico do Bahia, Colin Walcott, Michael Spiro, Ailton Nunes, Keith Terry, Los Muñequitos de Mantanzas, Bruno Moraes (Mocidade Indepente de Padre Miguel), Jorge Martins (Maracatu Estrella Brilante de Recife), Marcos Suzano, and Nana Vasconcelos. He has served on the faculties of Jefferson Performing Arts High school, Portland State, and Vancouver School of Arts & Academics, and conducted residencies at The Naropa Institute, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, Portland State, and many others.

Brian is an original touring and recording member of Pink Martini (13 CD’s, 1 DVD, numerous world tours), is the founder and director of the Brazilian styled music and dance ensemble “The Lions of Batucada”, and formed and directs the 127 member “Ainsworth Jr. Escola” - a Portland youth samba bateria (2004 - present). He has toured and/or recorded with jazz legend Herbie Hancock, Kalapana, Upepo, Obo Addy, Dub Squad, Nu Shooz, McKinley, Dan Reed Network, and the show “BataKetu” among many others. He has performed with a variety of symphonies across the US, Canada, and Europe – including the Boston Pops, The San Francisco Symphony, The National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, The BBC Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall, The Los Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl, and the Oregon Symphony – at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to LA’s Disney Concert Hall.

Brian served as the conductor for the nationwide Oregon Big Beat event (2010/2011).

His group The Lions of Batucada has shared the stage with David Byrne, Sean Lennon, and Fundo de Quintal, among many others. The Lions have collaborated with The Oregon Symphony, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Obo Addy, and rock legends Aerosmith, among others. They are featured on recordings with Pink Martini and the Von Traps.

He has worked extensively with numerous dance companies in the US, including Do Jump Theater, Oslund; Company, and Linda K. Johnson. When not touring with Pink Martini, Brian teaches body percussion and samba throughout the Pacific NW as part of the Young Audiences or OR; WA program, teaches each Summer at the California Brazil Camp (2005 –present), and conducts samba workshops for a variety of baterias, schools, and music stores across the US, Taiwan, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Recently inducted into the Hollywood Bowl of fame with Pink Martini, he has contributed articles to DRUM magazine (July 2013), and was featured in an interview/focus piece in Drumhead Magazine (issue # 29, September/October 2011).

Brian is proudly endorsed by LP Music.

Links:

Pink Martini

http://pinkmartini.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDSV39zQpxg

Lions of Batucada

https://www.facebook.com/groups/42066218108

http://www.lionsofbatucada.com/

Sambasingapura:
https://www.instagram.com/sambacingapura/