Excerpt of an original arrangement of a traditional Afro-Brazilian spiritual song (in Yoruba) for Yemanjá, orixá/diety/"goddess" of the ocean.

Arrangement, Vocals, & Percussion (udu, berimbau, atabaque, sound effects): Alex Shaw
Cello: Jeremiah Shaw
Piano: Luke Carlos O'Reilly

Recorded and Mixed by Alex Shaw & Jeremiah Shaw
Recorded in Philadelphia, PA, Winchester, VA, & Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Yemanjá - excerpt (2011)

Composed of sounds recorded in CalArts percussion room

Alex Shaw's Album

Performative Systems [2016]

Title meaning: "I want to return to Angola". Commissioned by Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre for US National Ice Skating Championship. Composed, arranged, and recorded by Alex Shaw (vocals, percussion). Tim Thompson (trumpet), Ernest Stuart (trombone), Patricio Acevedo (cavaco), Bernardo Aguiar (percussion), Steve Goodsell (sound engineer).

Quero Voltar Pra Angola (2009)

An original composition, titled Dia de Praia, or "Beach Day", originally inspired by working with a looping station. A cross-cultural blend of Afro-Brazilian instruments and rhythms with American-style doo-wop harmonies. Recorded and mixed by Alex Shaw (vocals, percussion). Video of this song can be found at: https://vimeo.com/39532943

Dia De Praia (2012)

Medley of short experimental percussion grooves. Gear used includes Digitech Whammy pedal (pitch shifter), Boss DD-7 delay pedal, & Boss RC-20XL loop station. Created October 2014.

Percussion (pandeiro, tamborim, berimbau) & Vocals: Alex Shaw

Recorded & Mixed by Alex Shaw
Recorded in Philadelphia, PA


Pedal Groove (2014)

Baba Joseph Bryant begins this original composition with a prayer for the world recited in the Yoruba language, asking the Creator for peace, health, and blessings for all people. The song " Só um Mar," meaning "Just One Ocean," is a coming-of-age story between father and son. Originally designed as an instrumental soundtrack composition, this song evolved into an expression of spiritual inspiration.

Lyrics by Alex Shaw. Recorded in 2005, and released on the album, "Alô Brasil: Abre a Janela".

Patricio Acevedo: guitar; Joseph Bryant: solo voice; Jeremy Dyen: piano; Jim Hamilton: ganzá, hang, effects; Alex Shaw: lead vocals, surdo, caixa, berimbaus; Clyde Shaw: cello

Prayer For The World / Só Um Mar (2005)

Solo pandeiro; a rhythmic exploration
(goatskin pandeiro made by Bira; Rio de Janeiro)

Performed, recorded, and mixed by Alex Shaw
Recorded in Blacksburg, VA


Pandeiro Journey (2015)

Original composition by Alex Shaw commissioned by choreographer Deneane Richburg for use in her dance work "Beloved", based on the 1987 Toni Morrison novel.

Features Brazilian pandeiro, Malian tama, and Nigerian dundun.

Percussion (rattle drum, triangle, caxixi, djembe, conga, bells, whistles, sound effects, wood blocks, cymbals, pandeiro, tama, dundun): Alex Shaw
Field recording: suburban Philadelphia; summer nocturnal
Recorded & Mixed by Alex Shaw
Recorded in Philadelphia, PA


Beloved's Battle (2011)

Live recording of Alô Brasil (band) performing a Brazilian drumming arrangement by director Alex Shaw.
Features rhythmic elements of hiphop, maracatu de baque virado, and coco de xambá.

Instrumentation: surdo, timbau, snare drum, chekerê, gonguê (bell)

Alex Shaw is playing gonguê & timbau

Mixed by Steve Goodsell
Recorded at World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA


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