Artist description What do you imagine when you think of steel drums? Well…think again. Put away your flowered shirt and your white shoes. This ain’t Margaritaville. And it ain’t Jamaica either. Based in Seattle, the grunge capital of the world, Bakra Bata’ rhythmically brings together the sounds of celebration and life, they groove on sensuality and love, and with precision they strike the soul with the percussive sounds of Brazil, Africa, Cuba, and Haiti. Bakra Bata’s music is the sound of America’s reality in the 21st century. The band has been reported in the L.A. Times as creating “music that side steps cultural biases”. Bakra Bata’ distinctly creates music to reflect our world. Your world. The world today. This is World Music with an American point of view.

Artist History In 1984 the band began as street performers, elbowing competitors to the side and staging their own premiere appearances in front of Nordstrom’s and (at the time) the country’s only Starbuck’s, in downtown Seattle. After years of waiting out the rain, Bakra Bata’ bought a truck and hit the festival and college circuits. Today, the band’s performance history includes four performances at New York’s Lincoln Center, opening for Zap Mama, Tito Puente, and Milton Nasciemento at the Houston International Festival, Carnival in Sao Paulo and Bahia Brazil with Carlinhos Brown and Tony Mola, Bethlehem Musikest, Milwaukee Summerfest, and numerous events throughout Canada.

Group Members Michael Shantz

Albums Get Up and Dance, Adventures in Paradise, Blessings in Disguise, Music for Bad Guys, Steel Drums & Percussion

Press Reviews “Their music is a participatory celebration of African-American culture in sight, sound, and movement. They have an audience rapport that most bands only give lip-service to.” -- Jon Kertzer The Rocket Music Magazine “They [Bakra Bata’] epitomize the synthesis of cultures that is ongoing throughout the world. We [art presenters] have a responsibility to present art that speaks out not only to what is unique about other cultures, but also how differing cultures impact each other in positive ways. This group celebrates the idea of global community.” -- Bob Slater Programming Director San Juan Capistrano Multicultural Arts Series The sheer artistry and exuberance of the group, coupled with its exacting professionalism, created and evening of theatre that held our audience entranced within the first five minutes, kept them there, and earned a prolonged standing ovation.” -- Virginia Pulis Executive Director Columbia Basin Allied Arts It is a rare treat to have a performance by a group that works so energetically and as skillfully as Bakra Bata’. Their enthusiasm for their music is contagious.” -- Serni Solidarios Director of College Activities University of the Puget Sound Bakra Bata’ was a hit with the festival patrons! Even our Artist Market artists, who are normally leery of large music groups because of their potentially loud volume, ere pleased with Bakra Bata’. Your consideration in working with the artists is order to complement, but not overpower tem, was noted and appreciated.” -- Ardath L. Pendergast Arts Manager Art Festival of Atlanta “During my tenure as Vice President of Performing Arts at the Houston International Festival, an annual art and cultural celebration that attracts an audience of more than one million, I presented Bakra Bata’ for two consecutive years, 1991 and 1992. Not only is the group comprised of talented artists, but also they are very adept at working in a variety of settings. They are able to arouse an audience with spontaneous street performance or to play a formal music set, as they did when I asked them to open for Brazilian musician and vocalist Milton Nascimento.” -- Ms. Baraka Sele Performing Arts Consultant Brooklyn Center for the Arts

Location Seattle, WA - USA

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