Dr. Brian Potts
Brian is a versatile performer and educator who seeks to connect the two cities he calls home, Miami and Rio de Janeiro. He studied classical percussion under Dr. Ney Rosauro at the University of Miami, and there became enamored with teaching and Brazilian music.
He currently leads Miamibloco, a batucada group dedicated to mixing traditional samba instrumentation with the rich cultural and musical make up of the 305. The group meets regularly at the Miami Beach Bandshell, and maintains both a top-level performance group as well as a teaching ensemble designed to get everyone up and playing.
In Rio de Janeiro he plays alongside some of the city’s top percussionists in PRD Mais, an offshoot of Bernardo Aguiar and Gabriel Policarpo's project, Pandeiro Repique Duo. This group is signed to Michael League’s label, GroundUP Music, has released two albums, and opened for Snarky Puppy on their latest South American tour. He also plays and records with Nu Deco Ensemble, Rose Max & Ramatis, Gafieira Rio Miami, Anemoia, Suenalo, and many other original projects in Miami.
His main instrument is the pandeiro, and after writing a doctoral dissertation on Marcos Suzano he combined with Bernardo Aguiar to create an online method for this instrument, Pandeiro Moderno. In addition to his performance career, Brian also teaches at Barry University as well as both online and in-person individual lessons.
Miamibloco
Miamibloco is…
A Samba Percussion Community where Miami meets Rio de Janeiro. Inspired by Traditional Carioca Samba schools, Blocos de Carnaval, and the historic musical link between Rio and Miami (think Miami Bass, Baile Funk), Miamibloco is part of the evolution of Bloco culture in the Diaspora.
Miamibloco began in 2017 in a friend’s front yard, where musicians from the local scene would gather periodically over BBQ and drinks, to learn and practice Brazilian rhythms.
Throughout the years they got together at parks around town, beaches and friends’ homes; and with the increased visibility, social media, and word of mouth they have grown into a diverse group that, just like in Brazil, is made up of people across many professions, ages and musical abilities.
Miamibloco has performed in collaboration with musicians Munir Hossn, Electric Kif, Wilson Café, and Rose Max & Ramatis. They have appeared at music festivals throughout the Miami area, such as GroundUp Fest, The South Beach Jazz Festival, and Virginia Key Grassroots Festival.
In 2022 Miamibloco gained a residency at the historic Miami Beach Bandshell as part of The Rhythm Foundation’s Bandshell Laboratories. Each Miamibloco season consists of Community Workshops where Brian makes music with 40 new students each session, a Bateria Academy designed to intensively train the next wave of ritmistas (drummers), and culminates with a stage show featuring the Miamibloco Bateria (made up of some of Miami's finest musicians of all instruments and backgrounds) and guest artists that represent Miami's diverse musical landscape.
Miamibloco is proud to be supported by Contemporânea Percussion, who have been partners in this effort since the very beginning.
Check out the recap from their inaugural season finale, the Miamibloco Brazilian Social:
PRD MAIS
Meanwhile, in Rio de janeiro…
PRD Mais is a result of Brian’s work with Bernardo Aguiar and Gabriel Policarpo, also known as Pandeiro Repique Duo (PRD). In 2015 the three of them presented a clinic at PASIC, and were invited back to perform the following year with a larger group. So they added some of Rio de Janeiro’s finest percussionists: Bóka Reis (on tour with Anitta) and Guilherme and Gustavo Oliveira (Mestres of the Salgueiro Samba School). They also called upon legendary pife and wind specialist Carlos Malta, as well as Snarky Puppy’s Chris Bullock.
After recording their debut album Rittenhouse, they were signed by Michael League to his label, GroundUP Music, and have performed across the US and Brazil, opening for Snarky Puppy in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Their latest release Waxworks is a soundtrack for a 1924 silent film of the same name, and the film plus score can be purchased through Alamo Drafthouse’s online platform.
Collaborations
Back in the 305…
In addition to his work in Rio, Brian maintains an active performance career in Miami. Through his work Nu Deco Ensemble, Brian mixes his orchestral upbringing with his real-world experience in popular music genres, composing his own parts to bridge the gap between these worlds. He has shared the stage with luminaries such as Angelique Kidjo, Robert Glasper, Jacob Collier, Aaron Parks, Cory Henry, Tank & The Bangas, Macy Gray, PJ Morton, Cimafunk, and many more.
He also performs and records regularly with many of the bands in Miami’s diverse original music scene, including Electric Kif, Anemoia, Lemon City Trio, Suenalo, Adam Scone, the Nick Tannura Quartet, and Oigo among others.
Pandeiro Moderno
An online pandeiro academy…
In 2020, Brian and Bernardo Aguiar released the Pandeiro Moderno online method. This work was produced through their partnership of many years, and contains over 7 hours of video instruction for a modern approach to a traditional instrument. It is a culmination of Bernardo’s lifetime of performance on this instrument, as well as Brian’s pedagogical prowess. The method is heavily influenced by Marcos Suzano, the subject of Brian’s doctoral dissertation, and thoroughly demonstrates the limitless potential of this instrument. With Suzano’s inverted technique and attached microphone, the pandeiro has become a “pocket drumset” and can be used in almost any musical situation.
To learn more about the Pandeiro Moderno method, check out the Groove Arte website, as well as Brian’s dissertation on Marcos Suzano.
MEDIA
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