In Nation Beat’s latest musical odyssey, traditional Brazilian rhythms intertwine with the soulful grooves of New Orleans, funk, and jazz to create a dynamic tapestry that spans continents and centuries. Each track is a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries, both geographical and temporal. Archaic Humans is a celebration of the timeless fusion of ancient roots and modern innovation.

As only could happen in today’s continuously shrinking world, Nation Beat singularly conjures up an elemental musical mojo, drawing on the wellsprings of rhythm that lit up jazz and got maracatu thundering. Archaic Humans takes off with bebop-via-Brazil drumming, propulsive bursts of New Orleans–flavored brass, and hair-on-fire jazz improvisation.  On Archaic Humans, the band lights up the afterburners to reach into fresh territory with a couple of new collaborators, too as GRAMMY-nominated progressive hip-hop/go-go artist Christylez Bacon from Washington, DC, and soulful South African voclist Melanie Scholtz braid radically new and uplifting strands into Nation Beat’s musical timeline.

 Replete with infectious beats, soul-stirring melodies, and a music-meld of the traditional and the cutting edge, Archaic Humans is an exploration of our collective heritage, inviting listeners to connect with the primal essence that unites us all right here in the present.  Dive in and let the music and history - past, present, and future - wash over you. Discover what it is to be an Archaic Human.

Recorded September 30 & October 1st, 2023.
Engineer: Sam Stauff
Recorded at Mercy University
Producer: Jason Olaine
Co-Producers: Scott Kettner & Paul Carlon
Mixed by: Alan Friedman
Mastered by Scott Anthony & Ben Davis, Storybook Sound
Additional Recordings: Pedro França, Fabrica Studios, Recife, Brazil
Management: Tom Frouge, Avokado Artists
Label: Ropeadope Records
Front Cover Collage Art: Melanie Scholtz
Front Cover Layout: Gina Graves
Album cover layout by Ropeadope
Cover photo by Krystal Pagán-De La Rosa. Photo assistant Janeivy Hilario (Neivy)

Nation Beat is:
Scott Kettner: drum set and percussion
Paul Carlon: tenor sax and horn arrangements
Mark Collins: trumpet
Tom McHugh: trombone
Heather Ewer: sousaphone

Special Guests:
Melanie Scholtz: vocals
Christylez Bacon: beatbox & rhymes
Luca Texeira: percussion
Michael Spiro: congas & percussion


Always Spring With You (feat. Melanie_Scholtz)

Give A Little (feat. Christylez_Bacon)

Race Car

Inutil Paisagem

Forro le Fonque

Rhythm of Your Dreams (feat Melanie Scholtz)

Be The Change

Grabación de estudio de baque manglar maracatú en 2024. Grabado en el estudio de Antonio Monedero y producido por Max Zawada (Do Indian)

13 maio / 1 abril (Nação do Maracatu Porto Rico cover)

Nossos tambores / Emorio (Estrela Brilhante do Recife / João Donato - Gilberto Gil cover)

Maracatu Embolado (Rodrigo Maranhão Cover)

Baque Manglar es la sección de maracatú de baque virado de la escuela de batucada Bloco Manglar dirigida por Alfredo del Río. 
En el baque Manglar se trabaja repertorio propio y versiones de las principales naçoes de maracatu de baque virado de Brasil.
No se trata de un grupo cerrado sino está abierto a cualquier incorporación sepa o no tocar cualquier instrumento. En la escuela Bloco Manglar aprenderás a tocar en pocas semanas.
+info: 633 332 068 (Alfredo)

FORRÓ - FUNK - BRASS!
The heartbeat of Nation Beat’s sound lies in a deliciously original 21st century fusion between thunderous Brazilian maracatu drumming and New Orleans second line rhythms. It is also the vibrant force of their explosive live show, which is frequently known to burst into crowd-wide Carnival-style drumming and singing. Nation Beat’s audacious energy seamlessly bridges folkloric Brazilian maracatu with classic NOLA roots music attracting an ever-growing legion of fans from across a wide demographic. Nation Beat plays the best kind of fusion in the world, the kind that doesn't try to fuse anything.  An American/Brazilian collective, Nation Beat belongs to both sides of the equator.

New tracks tagged #Maracatu