Rio de Janeiro attracts musicians from all over the world, one of whom is Finnish drummer and percussionist Sami Kontola. Sami and I became friends whilst playing together in the house band at the Maze jazz club in the Tavares Bastos favela. Sami’s friends in Finnish band Maria Gasolina recently toured Brazil and while theyContinue reading “The Finnish Connection: Thank you Maria Gasolina!”
Tag Archives: donations
New Instruments!
Today Keith Alderson finished off repairing and servicing another batch of instruments to be taken out to Brazil and used in the project. As usual he charged only a token free, and also sold us a baritone horn for £30, much less than its real value. Most of the instruments are ones that were donatedContinue reading “New Instruments!”
Favela Brass in The Longridge News
The recent donation of instruments to the project by the Longridge Band has attracted the attention the Longridge News, who ran a nice piece about us and the Longridge band yesterday. Thanks again to Shelagh and Dave Richardson and Fred Little for arranging the donation of the instruments from the band and to Joanna GavaghanContinue reading “Favela Brass in The Longridge News”
Thank you to Longridge Band!
Just as the prospect of an Argentina vs Germany World Cup final threatened to send the entire Favela Brass team into a state of deep depression, we’ve received some fantastic news! Longridge band, one of the oldest brass bands in the UK (dating back to 1845) based in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, has just madeContinue reading “Thank you to Longridge Band!”
Thank you Keith Alderson
Many of the instruments that are donated to the project in the UK need repairing before they can be taken over to Brazil and used. We are very lucky to have this work done by Doncaster’s instrument repair specalist Keith Alderson. Keith repairs the instruments quickly, cost-effectively and to the highest standard, allowing us toContinue reading “Thank you Keith Alderson”
Thank you to Richard McGown
We have just received the very generous and timely donation of an Olds Ambassador trumpet from Richard McGown, an American who has taken a keen interest in the project. The trumpet dates from the late 1950s/early 1960s and is a very well-made instrument that plays great after all these years. We’ve lent it to studentContinue reading “Thank you to Richard McGown”
Thank you to Rowena Smith and Ridgewood School
Brass instruments are extremely expensive in Brazil, more than twice the price of instruments in the UK. A big part of the project, then, is getting hold of instruments for the children. All of the instruments in the project are second-hand instruments from the UK which were then either donated or bought cheap on eBay,Continue reading “Thank you to Rowena Smith and Ridgewood School”