History Forro in the Dark

Forro in the Dark is a Brazilian band formed in New York City, NY during 2002.

Currently, the band is Mauro Refosco on Zabumba and Vocals; Gilmar Gomes on Percussion and Vocals; Davi Vieira on Percussion and Vocals; Guilherme Monteiro on Guitar and Vocals; Jorge Continentino on Pifano, Baritone Sax and Vocals; and Smokey Hormel on Baritone Guitar, Slide Guitar and Vocals.

From the band's website about what exactly "forro" entails:

One story goes that their namesake genre may even have taken its name from a mispronunciation of the English phrase 'for all'. When the northeastern Brazilians who invented the music said it, it came out sounding like 'Forro'.

In its most known form, popularized Luiz Gonzaga, Forro is played by a trio. The instruments are the zabumba (a bass-y drum played with a mallet), the triangle (like you played in elementary school), and the accordion (like an accordion). Of course, no tradition is an island. Forro has sprouted many branches. 'In Forro any instrumentation is possible. There are ensembles that go from just an accordion trio, to ensembles with drum machines and electric guitars, to ensembles that are just people stomping their feet, clapping their hands and singing in unison. In the end it’s all serving the purpose of helping people with their feelings,' Mauro Refosco, the leader of Forro in the Dark explains."

Official website:

www.forrointhedark.com

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