On the 13th of May, Flushing Town Hall is scheduled to host a sensational performance by Nation Beat, a cross-cultural fusion band, which will be preceded by an interactive percussion and movement workshop. The band’s live shows have attained a legendary reputation for their ability to energize and captivate their culturally diverse audience. The group’s founder, Scott Kettner, has been a pioneering force in combining diverse musical elements, blending the rhythms of Brazil with North American music since the inception of Nation Beat. The band’s unique blend of maracatú, Big Easy’s funk, forró, and swinging jazz all come together in an electrifying mix that underscores how music transcends borders and unites people.
In 2017, Kettner collaborated with Paul Carlon, an arranger and tenor saxophonist, taking the band’s cross-cultural exploration to a new level, resulting in a funkified, jazz-infused carnival sound that fuses the rhythms of New Orleans and Brazil. “While Brazilian music is a fundamental component of Nation Beat’s sound, our latest groove incorporates jazz elements,” Kettner explains. “It’s a beat that gets you moving!”
Ellen Kodadek, the Artistic and Executive Director of Flushing Town Hall, acknowledges the venue’s reputation as a hub for global music and outstanding jazz, highlighting how Nation Beat embodies both. “Nation Beat takes off with be-bop-via-Brazil drumming and is propelled by percussive bursts of New Orleans-flavored brass. Bring your dancing shoes!” she says.
The band’s lineup includes Scott Kettner on drums, Paul Carlon on tenor saxophone and arrangements, Mark Collins on trumpet, Tom McHugh on trombone, and Joe Correia on sousaphone. The evening’s program at Flushing Town Hall will commence at 7 PM with an interactive workshop, which introduces participants to body percussion and movement rhythm techniques, followed by a lively concert at 8 PM.
For the venue’s complete schedule of events for spring of 2023, visit: flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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