Kiko Freitas shares his expertise and love of the rhythms of his home country of Brazil in this inspiring and enlightening look at samba. Starting with a breakdown of the layers of samba, Kiko presents independence ideas using tamborim rhythms, batucada patterns, left hand and left foot independence concepts, odd-meter tamborim rhythms, and an approach to the samba snare drum. From there the material expands to include partido alto, using the brushes in samba, samba/funk, and samba school concepts. The book concludes with polyrhythmic ideas applied to samba. All of the content is explained in detail, accompanied by Kiko’s special method of vocalizing rhythms during practice.
The package includes over 115 videos covering dozens of the examples and variations in the book, plus 4 play-along tracks.
Kiko Freitas has been performing with Brazilian legend João Bosco for over twenty years, and has also performed with Michel Legrand, Nico Assumpção, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Frank Gambale, Lee Ritenour, John Patitucci, and many others. He has presented many clinics in Brazil and around the world, participating as a teacher at schools and events including National Brazilian Drummers Festival, Curso Internacional de Verão-EMB, Stockholm Royal Academy of Music (Sweden), and California Jazz Conservatory (USA), among many other places. Kiko was voted Best Drummer in World Music by Modern Drummer magazine in 2019.
“Very few books on music and rhythm in particular are as soulful as Kiko Freitas’s book on Brazilian Rhythms. Perhaps it has everything to do with the fact that not only is Kiko a master of what he plays and talks about, but he totally understands the spirit of the gift of music and the responsibility musicians have to live up to their talents to help shape their world and in turn…our world!!
Kiko does this with the break down of the components of the rhythms from their separate sonic sources of the single instruments. Kiko shares his understanding of this evolution from the African roots to the present day contemporary evolutions of instruments, alternate drum set ups and their incorporation into the Brazilian song forms.
Reviews
“Kiko’s aplications of brazilian rhythms to drumset are only a matter of pure musicianship… Yet if they are full of tecnical dificulties is only to the service of music… So this is not another brazilian rhythms drum book, this is a book about brazilian music from the drum set made by one of its modern most advanced innovators.“
Horacio El Negro Hernandez
“This latest offering of explaining Brazilian music is so welcome to the drumming community. Why not learn from an expert in this field? Kiko stresses listening and singing what you want to play. This information will take you where your playing where you want it to be. Thank you for sharing your expertise, Kiko! Now I must return to your ideas…and sing!”
Jeff Hamilton
Very few books on music and rhythm in particular are as soulful as Kiko’s book on Brazilian Rhythms. Perhaps it has everything to do with the fact that not only is Kiko a master of what he plays and talks about, but he totally understands the spirit of the gift of music and the responsibility musicians have to live up to their talents to help shape their world and in turn…our world!!
Jamey Haddad
“Having played with Kiko, I can say first hand, he has a beautiful time feel and is versatile in many styles of music. Kiko is a virtuoso in the truest sense of the word. His technique is always in service of the music! I am excited to study this book because of my deep love for the vast array of Grooves from Brazil!”
John Patitucci
“Kiko is an artist of the highest caliber. His knowledge, discipline and technique, second to none, but higher than the knowledge and technique is his magnificent and loving soul, intuition, creativity and musical benevolence – all of which are paramount in his artistry every time I hear this beautiful musician play.”
Gary Husband
I love the book! Starting with the book itself, with excellent quality binding. As for content, it contemplates a modern and consistent approach to samba and our new one. I don’t even know if it’s not the only publication to address the subject, in the way it was proposed, containing beautiful illustrative and even historical photos… Finally, the approximately 140 video clips included represent a significant help in studying these wonderful rhythms that delight people from all over the world!
Dani B. (Amazon.com customer review)
