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Circo is an American funhouse mirror of Uruguayan and Brazilian jazz, a madly careening-out-of-control jeepful of five madmen and one madwoman. It is also a planet where " Brazil " is sambaed to, daily, by mulattas and monks.
The band, consisting of sax, female vocals, accordion or piano, bass, percussionist and drums (everyone sings) has been together about five years, rehearsing, rocking Midwest jazz festivals with their Northernized take on Latin jazz, and since the release of North/South Convergence (2001)has been taking on Carmen Miranda on her home turf, as well as el Gemillero (the "old man" figure of the Uruguayan parade culture).
Lee Tomboulian is the gregarious leader of Circo, the main composer, accordionist and pianist. Raised on Mozart and Zappa Lee has accompanied Nat Adderley, Pharoah Sanders, Eddie Harris, to say nothing of Andrea Bocelli. He has attended the Naropa Institute and UNT where he was the weirdest pianist the world-famous One O'Clock Lab Band ever had (Lab 1997).
The heart of the band, native Uruguayan percussionist Ricardo Bozas played with Vinicius De Moraes (co-writer of "Girl from Ipanema"), and also the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band. He sounds like a whole samba school, sometimes covering surdo, conga and small toys all at once. Ricardo together with polyrhythmic genius Dennis Durick (Café Noir, Quartet Out, Brouhaha) on drums drive the Circo rhythm machine.
Brian Warthen is one of the busiest bass players in the D/FW area, performing and recording with a variety of artists. He enjoys playing a wide range of musical styles from Jazz to Pop, Country, R&B and especially Latin music. In addition to his live performing schedule Brian does quite a bit of recording work and also writes and arranges music for several bands and solo artists.
Pete Brewer, flutist and saxophonist, has his own mainstream jazz recordings and toured with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd. His solos have a different personality on each instrument he plays.
Betty Tomboulian sings in English, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as scat on Lee's impossible melodies that soar into the stratosphere. She sings Brazilian standards in a smoky alto that has been likened to Astrud Gilberto. She plays keys and guitar.
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