Preview: Oceanico – Brazilian and South African band- playing at Nouvelles Vibes, Alliance Francaise, Cape Town

Preview: Oceanico – Brazilian and South African band- transoceanic band- connecting two countries across the ocean–playing at Nouvelles Vibes, Alliance Francaise on July 15, 2022

Oceanico- a vibrant multicultural band- comprised of Brazilian and South African musicians- is playing at the Alliance Francaise, on Friday July 15, 2022 as part of Cape Town Music Academy’s concert series, Nouvelles Vibes. The music will begin at 7pm and tickets range between R60 and R150 from Quicket. Oceanico is an innovative band/project, connecting artists from Brazil and South Africa – across the ocean. Info as supplied:

Oceanico –transoceanic band- connecting two countries across the ocean

Oceanico is fronted up by Brazilian Paulo Costa, a musician and composer, who has lived in South Africa, for six years. He conceptualised and “ignited” the project, after he reconnected in Brazil with Augusto Castro, a friend, musician, composer and visual artist. Castro invited Blake Hellaby, a South African jazz pianist and producer to work on creating a “transoceanic” music collaboration and Oceanico was formed- connecting two countries across the ocean.

The first album Aquariou was released, online in December 2021. The album tells a story of “awakening and (re)tuning with each-other’s frequencies” and a “new world”, as “human and as a creator”. Brazilian music genres such as Samba and Baião were mixed with jazz, Ghoema and other African rhythms and performed by an incredible selection of emerging musicians from the South African and Brazilian music scenes. The musicians working on the album, included: Sean Sanby (SA), Justin Bellairs (SA), Muneeb Hermans (SA), Lílian Rocha (BRA) and Anderson Ziemmer (BRA). In April 2022, the group performed its official album launch show in Cape Town. The concert was supported by Concerts SA and partners, through the Digital Mobility Fund. In the same month, some members of the band performed seven shows in a tour along the Garden Route and Kwazulu Natal. A highlight of the tour, was a slot at Splashy Fen, one of the biggest music festivals in SA.

Now [20222], the team is led by Paulo Costa and features Sean Sanby (bass), Brathew Van Schalkwyk (keys), Lilavan Gangen (percussion), Dane Paris (drumkit), Mana (vocals), Danél Dippenaar (flute and saxophone) and Muneeb Hermans (trumpet). The repertoire at the concert on July 15 is comprised of songs from the album and new compositions and interpretations by renowned Brazilian composers like Djavan, Gilberto Gil, João Bosco and Tom Jobim. The concert references samba, Bossa Nova and Baião, with storytelling, jazz and African influences. Oceanico is a multicultural transoceanic collaboration which has developed into an experience which makes an impact on those who listen to the music and attend the live concerts.

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