The Batuka! International Drum Festival took place from July 30 to July 31 at the Auditorio Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. This 13th iteration of festival was a celebration of diversity: not only were there artists from numerous countries participating, but the universality of musical language was represented by a rich tapestry of styles and genres, including Samba, Heavy Metal, Afro-Cuban, Condambe, Pop/Rock, to name but a few.

Vera Figuereido - queen regnant of modern samba, creator and artistic director of the Batuka! International Drum Festival - opened the festival (performing for the first time on her gorgeous new MAPEX Saturn drums) in a trio formed with Chico Willcox (electric bass) and Erik Escobar (piano). During her performance, Vera paid tribute to her teacher, Zimbo Trio drummer Rubens Barsotti, and spoke about his importance to the Brazilian music scene and how the opportunity of studying with him influenced the direction in which she has led her own career.

Assisted by interpreter Thiago Figueiredo, global drumming ambassador Dom Famularo regaled a captive audience with anecdotes and histories, delivering the message that we must do what we love in order to get the best results from life with his customary intensity and passion.

The second day of the festival saw Dom playing his personal arrangements of the classics "Let It Be" (original by Paul McCartney) and "Imagine" (original by John Lennon) with the great Riccardo Castellanos (piano) and Thiago Alves (acoustic bass).

The IBVF and Batuka! honored Dom by recognizing outstanding work around the world as drummer, educator and motivational speaker, and also for his dedication to inspire others to do the best with their music and lives.

The Brazilian audience lost no time in unreservedly embracing Damien, despite this dynamic and outgoing artist being a relative newcomer to Brazil. Coming from a family of musicians, Damien has been involved with music-making since early childhood, and is both a singer and multi-instrumentalist. No matter the style - jazz, pop, hip hop - Damien’s eclectic set list including his own compositions ("Everything Is Your Name", "In A Jungle") and a medley of Michael Jackson's hits bore testament to his refusal to impose limits on himself. A true artist, Damien's Batuka! debut was hugely celebrated.

A titan of heavy metal drumming, Aquiles Priester is an imposing presence on the international scene: dominating the stage with his killer MAPEX Deep Forest kit (a legend in Brazil!), Aquiles flexed his powerful technique with thunderous renditions of Hangar hits "Colorblind" and "Some Light To Find My Way", and demonstrated his amazing agility and double-bass chops with his iconic PsychOcotopus Solo.

In 2011, Batuka! forged another important link in its partnership with MAPEX by hosting the first ever Brazilian regional MAPEX Drummer Of Tomorrow heats, the winner of which will participate in the Drummer Of Tomorrow world finals held in 2012 at the Frankfurt Musikmesse. The judges were: Dom Famularo, Aquiles Priester, Damien Schmitt, Vera Figueiredo and Quintino Cinalli. Each contender performed one tune of his own choice, a drum solo, and the tune chosen by the festival committee, "Nino, o Pernambuquinho” by Maestro Duda.

The final contenders were favorite (by public vote) Eder Medeiros (Tubarao/SC), Rogerio Pitomba (Natal/RN), and finally Tiago de Souza (Belford Roxo/RJ), announced as the Brazilian MAPEX Drummer of Tomorrow. In addition to earning his spot at the world finals in Germany next year, Tiago was awarded with a MAPEX drum kit, SABIAN cymbals, EVANS drumheads, AUDIX microphones, STAFF DRUM/Power Shot triggers, VIC FIRTH drumsticks, brushes and bag, MODERN DRUMMER BRAZIL magazine subscription, and HUDSON MUSIC books and DVD. Eder Medeiros and Rogerio Pitomba received Honorable Mention prizes, including MEINL and BOSPHORUS cymbals, MAPEX BLACK PANTHER snare drum, MAPEX FALCON pedal, EVANS drumheads, STAFF DRUM/Power Shot triggers, VIC FIRTH drumsticks, brushes and bags, and HUDSON MUSIC books and DVD. Many congratulations to the everybody who took part in the event: MAPEX looks forward to meeting Tiago in Frankfurt and we hope to see all of you again soon.

To learn more about Batuka! International Drum Festival, please visit http://www.batukabrasil.com/.






From left to right: Quintino Cinalli, Aquiles Priester, Tiago de Souza, Dom Famularo, Damien Schmitt, Vera Figueiredo

All images used with permission from Ale Frata.