- TRIO ARREBOL -
Forró is a Brazilian genre of music from the Northeast of the country that is an extremely rich example of how different cultures can band together to create music that is truly for all. A meeting of Native Indians, African and Portuguese people creating a new dance and music played with three major instruments: the accordion, the zabumba (drum) and the triangle. Forró is great symbol of the power of unity in a world that so desperately needs it.
Trio Arrebol performs as a traditional 3-member Forró band, inviting special guests on bass, violin, sax, and more on occasion. Classics from greats such as the godfathers of Forró: Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson Do Pandeiro and Dominguinhnos are incorporated with original Forró compositions by Cordeone.
What makes Trio Arrebol different? With a wealth of international influences and global music knowledge, this Forró band brings a different flavor to the table, incorporating jazz, reggae and popular music into their show. A Trio Arrebol Forró show has something for everyone!
Check out No Meio Da Noite Cordeone’s original Forró album, available wherever you stream your music!
Let’s dance!
How to dance FORRÓ
Yes, Forró is a partner dance, like salsa and tango, and that can be intimidating; but worry not! Basic Forró steps are really easy to learn, and forrozeiros (forró dancers) are super friendly and happy to teach a beginner. If you can two-step, you can Forró!
There are many different rhythms and styles of Forró: Xote, Rojão, Baião, Forró, Xaxado, Arastapé; but the principal for dancers remains the same whether you’re dancing to faster styles or slower ones. Dancing Forró consists of a leader (usually the man) and a follower (usually the woman). The dance is close and intimate, like a dancing hug. Followers are encouraged to dance on their tipy toes to allow for ease of movement and direction. Basic steps consist of a matched forward step and a matched backwards step, mirroring the leader’s direction. As you progress, you will learn to lead or follow in complex turns, waves, and traveling steps, but for now just remember: forward and back.
And listen, Forró is all about community and connection, but you are under no obligation to dance or learn the steps. Freestyle, groove in your seat, or just listen to the music. As we said, this music is for all!
Intrigued? Watch our instructional videos at the end of this EPK.
Introducing: NO MEIO DA NOITE
An original Forró album written, composed and arranged by Cordeone.
Get familiar with Cordeone’s No Meio Da Noite album. Conceived at the start of the pandemic and completed in 2022, this album is a labor of love from Cordeone to the world, in what proved to be the most challenging time almost all of us ever faced.
Songs are written and sung in Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese from Portugal, French and English, with all titles being original compositions, safe for “Juras De Samba.” Invited guests come from all over the world, include Jake Owens on electric guitar (NYC: Jake’s Heart) Caio Caboclo as a guest writer (Brazil: Se Vira), Tony Lito on vocals (Portugal, Sou Navegante), Karine Jarry on backing vocals (France, all titles) and Anne-Marie as a guest writer (NYC, Gaia Calls), to name just a few.
These instrumental and lyrical tunes, along with Cordeone’s warm baritone, will have you dancing, singing and feeling good. Click on the link above to listen to the entire album on youtube, or find No Meio Da Noite wherever you stream your music!
Get to Know TRIO ARREBOL
CORDEONE
began his musical career at the age of 9, first mastering the accordion. He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, who’s learned to adapt his instruments to various musical styles. Cordeone has had the pleasure of collaborating with Jah Mason, Turbulence, Norrisman, Big Joe Turner and his Memphis Blues Caravan, Ben l'oncle Soul, and many others. He’s released three albums, Vida, Miss Erzulie, and most recently Uma História Simples and is currently completing the UnCommon Sound debut album.
The artist is also a polyglot, speaking French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Haitian Creole, and more. Cordeone has performed internationally and locally at festivals and venues such as Festival Terre du Son (France), The Pan-African Space Station Festival (South Africa), Lincoln Center (NY-USA), 92 Street Y ((NY-USA), Theatre Rialto (Montreal-CANADA) and more.
Cordeone is the recipient of the 2022 Best Fado Performance Award and the 2019 Best Fado Album for Uma Historia Simples at the International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMAs), and was awarded 2019 Best Solo Vocals at the Made In Jazz New York Festival.
Anne-Marie AGBODJI
is a Togolese-American artist based in New York City. A lover of the arts, Anne-Marie is an actor, writer, director, poet and musician. She plays bass guitar in the Afroluso band Kiambe and triangle for the band Trio Arrebol. She was introduced to Forró in Paris in 2016 when she saw Cordeone perform and has since fallen in love with the style as a forrozeira and musician.
Anne-Marie was drawn to words at a very young age and began writing poetry at 11 years old. She has written lyrics for several artists, including on Cordeone’s Forró album No Meio Da Noite and for UnCommon Sound.
As an actor, Anne-Marie has appeared in films, TV series and commercials locally and internationally, including The Pod Generation, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Law & Order: SVU, Le Bureau Des Légends, and a Vinted France Commercial to name a few. She holds a B.A. in Communications from The City College of New York and she is currently getting her Masters from the school of Life.
Everton ISIDORO
was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He began studying percussion in 1999, and he has completed his Bachelors degree in Percussion at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in 2012.
Everton has built his career around his love for the rhythms native to his country, specifically those from Northeastern Brazil. Despite his young age, he is already well respected as both a master player and teacher by musicians world wide.
He has played with artists such as Maria Bethânia, Ivete Sangalo, Caetano Veloso, Susana Baca, Carlinhos Brown, Mercedes Sosa, Cecília Todd, Ramiro Musotto and others. He also performed in more than 75 cities in Brazil with the UFBA percussion Ensemble. In the United States, Everton has taught workshops at Harlem Samba, Play on Philly, Samba New York, New York Capoeira Center, Filhos de Dunga, Dwana Smallwood’s dance school, the Philadelphia Orchestra's school partnership program, Believe NYC and others. He is the founder and music director of Mambembé NYC.
Trio Arrebol is part of the wonderful New York Forró commnunity and we often invite other musicians to play with our band. Our extended band members include Mike LaValle and Gil Oliveira.
92Y Invites TRIO ARREBOL
Cordeone: Lead Vocal and Accordion, Gil Oliveira: Zabumba and Backing vocal, Everton Isidoro: Triangle and Backing Vocals
Dancers: Cacau Moutinho and Anne-Marie Agbodji
Song: Feira De Mangaio
RESIDENCIES
CURRENT
MIDTOWN MUSIC SERIES
We have the pleasure to be a part of 34th Street Partnership’s Midtown Music Series. Bringing music to the various plazas around midtown every day of the week except on Sundays, the series highlights a number of musical genres and brings forth a collective of talented musicians to represent the incredible sounds of the city. A great break form he hustle and bustle of the city, tourists and locals alike stop to enjoy our pop-up concert during their commute or at their lunch break. The series runs from spring to fall (May until about September/October). Trio Arrebol performs two sets on Thursdays, from 12:30pm-2pm and again from 3pm to 4:30pm.
We’ve been honored to broaden the reach of Forró through this series, often performing for audiences that have never heard of the style before. Performances are free of charge, and audiences are welcomed to tip the band should they choose.
Trio Arrebol has been in residency with Midtown Music since 2021.
Find out more here.
PAST
FORRÓ NIGHT AT JOEY BATS CAFE & GAMA LOUNGE (2020-2022)
For two years, we’ve had the pleasure of performing every Sunday, bringing Forró to the streets at Joey Bats Cafe.
This incredible outdoor Forró experience was created in the summer of 2020 to bring joy to the community when outdoor dinning and events became a possibility. It was the first and only Forró event available in the tri-state area up until summer 2022. During these challenging times, this event became a source of solace for many, helping the community overcome the stress, depression and loneliness brought on by COVID-19. Dancers and Forró lovers travelled from all 5 boroughs of NYC, New Jersey, Connecticut, and even Boston at times to enjoy the music. With the proper safety measures in place, this was a time of true solidarity and community. We have been honored to build something that truly helped the Forró community and music lovers from all backgrounds get through 2+ tough years of this unprecedented pandemic. All were welcome to stop by, listen, dance and have a good time, free of charge.
We thank Joey Bats Cafe and Gama Lounge for their trust and partnership.
Cinco De Mayo (2020-2021)
Just as we had done at Joey Bats, Trio Arrebol brought music to the outdoor seating area of Cinco De Mayo Restaurant, offering locals in the Flatbush/Ditmas Park area a unique musical experience. This was primarily a seated concert series, and we were deeply grateful to see Cinco De Mayo through to its very last day. Unfortunately, the restaurant couldn't survive the impact COVID-19 had on businesses and closed its doors in 2021.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Edith and the team at Cinco De Mayo for trusting us and being the first to take a chance on bringing live music to a space that had never done so before. It was truly magical working with them!
A quick FORRÓ LESSON
Forró traces its origins to a blending of the music and dances of Native American Indians, Africans and Portuguese peoples. It began in the 1800s as Brazilian country music from the northeastern sertão: dry, cactus-filled, backwoods cattle country.
Farmers and workers used to sing to the cows and call to each other in song as they gathered coffee and other crops like sugarcane, corn and vegetables. They had a different song for each crop and for each phase of the harvest. As the farmers and fieldhands corralled cows and carried crops from the fields into the houses and cafes, the songs travelled with them, and the entire community would then join in the singing. Traditionally, lyrics were about rural life, including concerns about droughts, migration to look for work and homesickness. The music became more widely known in the late 1940s and was revived in Brazil in the 1990s.
Today, “going to forró” simply means going to a party or going out, but its roots are felt in the international community the music has created.
How to dance Xote, a slower style of Forró: Instruction video.
How to dance Rojão, a faster style of Forró: Instruction video.
Trio Arrebol generally performs as a 3-band group, but we love to enhance the experience by additing additional instruments. The bass and violin or saxophone are a wonderful addition to the mix. Let us know if you’re interested in our larger formation. We are also able to bring in professional dancers for our shows. Don’t be shy, ask us about it!
BOOKINGS
For bookings/inquiries:
US: +1 (908) 718-1655 | FR: +33 6 63 94 90 81
ASSISTANT.CORDEONE@GMAIL.COM
or complete the form below