The British Council          |    Versão em Português

The MPBBPM project sprang from the recognition of a fundamental similarity between Brazil and the United Kingdom: borht express their rich cultural diversity through their music, music which is strongly influenced by the cultural diversity of each nation. In the case of Brazil, the European, African and American influences are evident, while British popular music has traces of Asian, African, Afro-Caribbean influences and rhythms.

In collaboration with a number of Brazillian producers the British Council launched the MPBBPM project in April 2001 with the mission of promoting performances of British and Brazilian artists with similar musical influences. In addition to concerts, other activities such as workshops, forums, debates and specialized classes are arranged. It is hoped that collaborative works will result from placing British and Brazilian musicians on stage beside each other. In terms of "politicized music" the first edition of the project featured the participation of the British band Asian Dub Foundation and the Brazilian groups "O Rappa", "Nação Zumbi" and "Marcelo D2".

During the event, workshops on electronic music were also held, conducted by the educational branch of the group Asian Dub Foundation (ADFED), in addition to jam sessions with the bands "Afro Reggae" in Rio de Janeiro and "Meninos do Murumbi" in São Paulo.

The second edition of MPBBPM will have Afro-Caribbean tendencies in electronic music as its central theme. On the British side, the event features the participation of DJ Norman Jay, one of the biggest players in the current European electronic music scene, whose primary influence is the Black music of Central America. The English sociologist Paul Gilroy will also represent the UK. Gilroy is the author of "O Atlântico Negro" (The Black Atlantic), recently published by Editora 34 in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian side features the participation of DJ Marky who established his name in the London music scene with his unmistakably Brazilian drum 'n' bass. Also present will be the percussion group made up of the boys and girls of "Projeto Axé" from Salvador. The musical performances and other events will occur simultaneously in the cities of Salvador, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

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