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Brooklyn Academy of Muisc (BAM) presents Red Hot + Rio 2: The Next Generation of Samba Soul, an all-star benefit tribute to the music and culture of Brazil. For two exceptional concert events on December 4th and 5th, BAM brings together the newest generation of Brazilian and international artists who represent the legacy of this influential musical style.

Samba Soul emerged during the post-Tropicália movement of the 70s. Mixing samba with R&B, soul with baião, pioneering artists like Jorge Ben Jor and Tim Maia signaled a cultural awakening that changed the direction of Brazilian music forever. A tribute to this extraordinary musical history features the next wave of groundbreaking Brazilian and international artists: CéU, Curumin, Bebel Gilberto, José González, Otto, and João Parahyba (of Trio Mocotó) as featured soloists, backed by Domenico, Kassin +2, Janja Gomes, Money Mark, and Moreno Veloso.

BAM will present two performances of Red Hot + Rio 2 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Avenue) on December 4 & 5 at 8pm. Tickets, priced at $25, 45, and 65, may be purchased by calling BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or online at BAM.org.

In recognition of World Aids Day (Dec. 1), a portion of the proceeds from Red Hot + Rio 2 will benefit BrazilFoundation's AIDS-related projects. BrazilFoundation is a non-profit organization which invests in sustainable and socially progressive humanitarian causes throughout Brazil. More information about this organization can be found at www.Brazilfoundation.org.

The Red Hot + Rio 2 engagement continues a special concert series which began with BAM's presentation of Red Hot + RIOT LIVE!—The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti (2006 Next Wave Festival), a celebration of the late Nigerian musician and Afrobeat king.

About the Artists:

CéU - The first international artist to be featured in Starbucks' Hear Music Debut CD series, CéU reached #1 on Billboard's World Music chart with her self-titled CD. The São Paolo-based singer blends samba, folk, and soul music and scored a Latin Grammy nomination in 2006 for Best New Artist.

Curumin - Luciano Nakata Albuquerque, born in Brazil to Spanish/Japanese parents, began his musical career at age eight, hence the early nickname "Curumin," a term reserved by Brazilians for their most precocious children. His re-workings of 70s samba funk with infusions of jazz, funk, and hip-hop recently stretched to include sounds from his Asian heritage in his new CD, JapanPopShow, released November 4th.

Bebel Gilberto – A singer born into Brazilian musical royalty, Gilberto is the daughter of singer Miucha Gilberto and renowned musician João Gilberto. Her soulful, restrained blend of Brazilian and international music has earned her multiple Grammy nominations. Bebel released her third solo album, Momento in 2007.

José González - Born in Sweden of Argentinean parents, González makes music that is a combination of softness and passion, a folk style grounded in his early classical guitar training and darkened by his later forays into Sweden's hard core metal scene. His second CD In Our Nature was released in 2007.

Otto - A percussionist of Dutch and Brazilian descent, Otto is one of the creative forces behind the current "MPB" (Musica Popular Brazileira) scene. His most recent CD Condom Black is an excursion into the hinterlands of his country's rural folks rhythms mixed liberally with American funk and rap.

Money Mark - Adept at melding funk, jazz, hip-hop, folk, Afro-Cuban, and Latin music as well as experimental noise, Money Mark is a producer and musician who has collaborated with The Beastie Boys, Beck, The Omar Rodriquez-Lopez Quintet, and Jack Johnson. His latest album Brand New by Tomorrow was released in 2007.

Kassin, Moreno, Domenico - Samba super-group Alexandre Kassin, Moreno Veloso (son of Caetano Veloso) and Domenico Lancelotti are a trio of groundbreaking producers and multi-instrumentalists. Their trilogy of collaborations has allowed each of them an equal turn at the musical helm as Kassin +2, Moreno +2, and Domenico +2. Each of their recordings offers a different take on 21st century samba and bossa nova.

João Parahyba and Janja Gomes - One of the true pioneers of Brazil's electonic music scene, Parahyba was a founding member of the legendary Trio Mocotó, the backing band for the great singer Jorge Ben. His son Janja Gomes follows in the family's experimental percussion tradition.

About The Red Hot Organization:

Since 1989 The Red Hot Organization has produced twenty groundbreaking albums and related television specials incorporating the elements of leading musicians, performers, producers, filmmakers, and visual artists to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS. To date, Red Hot projects have raised over 7 million dollars towards AIDS awareness and relief around the world.

About the Next Wave Festival:

BAM's Next Wave Festival, which enters its 26th season in 2008, has permanently changed the landscape of culture through breakout performances, landmark productions, daring experiments, and once-in-a-lifetime moments. The Festival originated as a fall series entitled "The Next Wave/New Masters." In November 1981, Philip Glass' new opera, Satyagraha, was presented as one of four productions under the Next Wave moniker. A more ambitious series followed in 1982, including a two-evening performance work by Laurie Anderson—United States: Parts I-IV.

From the seeds of these two rich years grew an idea for something bolder and riskier. The Next Wave Festival, dedicated to exciting new works and cross-disciplinary collaborations by promising young artists, was launched in October 1983. Pieces that previously had been presented in downtown lofts and small "black box" theaters were staged in the exquisite 2,100-seat BAM Opera House (later renamed the Howard Gilman Opera House), a renovated 1,000-seat playhouse (the Helen Carey Playhouse, now home to BAM Rose Cinemas), and a flexible 300-seat performance venue (the Lepercq Space). In 1987, with Peter Brook's Mahabharata, BAM opened another large stage—the 874-seat Majestic Theater—since renamed the Harvey Theater in honor of Harvey Lichtenstein (former president and executive producer). Since 1999, BAM has been led by President Karen Brooks Hopkins and by Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo, who curates the Next Wave Festival and served as the producer of the inaugural festival.

BAM 2008 Next Wave Festival is sponsored by Altria Group. Leadership support for the Next Wave Festival is provided by The Ford Foundation. Programming in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House is supported and endowed by The Howard Gilman Foundation.