Second Sundays: Rob Curto’s Pé De Serra All-Stars and Innove Gnawa Band

A global mix of energizing dance tunes and spiritual trance music from Brazil and Morocco, performed in two live sets. Recorded during the Pioneer Works Second Sunday open house event on June 14th, 2015.

Forró, from northeastern Brazil, may surpass even samba as the country’s most popular dance genre, and accordionist Rob Curto, who has studied and performed in Brazil with Forró’s greatest names—Dominguinhos, Arlindo dos Oito Baixos, and Camarão—is widely regarded as Forro’s foremost ambassador in the US. His Pé de Serra All-Stars mixes raw energy with virtuosity. With Rob Curto–accordion; Adriano Santos–drums; Mike LaValle–bass, and Davi Vieira and Zé Mauricio–percussion.

InnoVe Gnawa is a Gnawa band comprised of Moroccan artists that explore ancient spiritual music of North Africa with an innovative, hypnotic twist. Led by Maalem Hassan BenJaafer.

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