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Forro in the Dark | |
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 Forro in the Dark performing inLos Angeles, November 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York, New York, USA, Brazil |
| Genres | Rock,worldbeat,world music |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Nat Geo Music,Nublu Records |
| Members | Mauro Refosco Guilherme Monteiro Jorge Continentino |
| Website | www.forrointhedark.com |
Forro in the Dark is aNew York-based collective of Brazilianexpatriates that formed in 2002. The group combines the musical style offorró (pronounced "faw-HAW"), "the percussion-heavy, rhythmic dance music"[1] of their nativeBrazil, with elements ofrock,folk,jazz, andcountry.
In celebration of his birthday (October 16), Mauro Refosco invited some friends over for a forró-style jam session atNublu, a nightclub located in theEast Village district ofNew York City. The group was such a hit that they started a weeklyresidency at the club.[2] Their public prominence increased due to their extended residency at Nublu, where they came into contact with prominent New York influenceDavid Byrne, who helped propel further recognition for the band when they collaborated on Forro in the Dark's 2006 albumBonfires of São João.[3]
In November 2006, Forro in the Dark released their debut albumBonfires of São João, which includes guest performances fromBebel Gilberto,David Byrne andMiho Hatori. In regards to the album,Allmusic noted that "Forro in the Dark hang on tightly to the danceability of the music but are keen to expand the music's sonic parameters. Areggae tune, 'Limoeiro do Norte,' spotlights a wobbly flute up front, while 'Que Que Tu Fez' crosses an insistentAfro-Caribbean rhythm withflamenco handclaps, a flighty flute, and a spry vocal. Guest stars liven up the proceedings:David Byrne vocalizes exuberantly on two tracks, including 'Asa Branca,' a forro standard, and the Brazilian divaBebel Gilberto donates a rich, sultry lead vocal to the airy ballad 'Wandering Swallow.'Miho Hatori of the bandCibo Matto further blurs the lines by bringing aJapanese pop taste to Gonzaga's 'Paraiba'…"[4]
The group toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe in 2007 to promote the album. During this time they recorded the song "City of Immigrants" that was featured on "Steve Earle’s Grammy-winning albumWashington Square Serenade".[2]
Following the 2008 release of their EPDia de Roda, Forro in the Dark began work on their second full-length albumLight a Candle. Guest artists on the LP includeSabina Sciubba ofBrazilian Girls who appears on the track "Silence Is Golden" and singer-songwriterJesse Harris who provides vocals for the song "Just Like Any Other Night". The album also features covers offorró classics like "Saudades de Manezinho Araujo" byTeo Azevedo and "Forro de Dois Amigos" byEdmilson do Pífano.
SFWeekly regarded the band as "[pushing] the genre [offorró] even further, adding fuzzed-out guitar riffage,turntable scratchery, and breathy, honking sax…and recorded live with only minimaloverdubs, giving them a rushing vibrancy…the band's tunes shudder and shake like anepileptic belly dancer."[5]
In 2009, the band collaborated with singer-songwriterBrett Dennen for a live session recording made available oniTunes.[6] Refosco was also announced as the percussionist forThom Yorke's new live bandAtoms for Peace (which also includesFlea of theRed Hot Chili Peppers,Joey Waronker ofBeck andNigel Godrich).[7] Refosco joined theRed Hot Chili Peppers touring lineup as a percussionist from 2011 to 2014.
As described by Refosco,forró "is a happy, danceable music based on four elements: simplemelodies, basicharmonies, driving rhythms and funny lyrics. Those elements are traditionally performed by three instruments: atriangle, anaccordion, and azabumba, a drum pitched somewhere between a lowsnare and a smallbass". The band alternates between these musical components as they include various guitars and other percussion instruments, such as aBahian drum called thetimbau,[2] along with traditionalforró components. Continentino plays a variety of wind instruments including a wooden flute called thepífano, instead of the accordion.[8]
Steve Klinge fromThe Philadelphia Inquirer describes the band as "[updating] and [recontextualizing] the northeastern Brazilian music...forro…it's a frantic, zippy collision ofpercussion,flute, andelectric guitar with an occasionalsax solo and lyrics inPortuguese and English. It'spolyrhythmic street-party music with a downtown edge."[9]
All three members participate as vocalists.[1]
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