Circo

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.

A Felicidade Ariel African Bird Afro Joe Ana Anti-calypso Ariel Asa Branca Brazil Breaking Us in Two Buy Yer Own Cartoon Music Café Casa Forte The Cats Choro, Nao Mambo Circo Marimbando Circo TV Theme Cravo e Canela Creek De Mi Pueblo Dona Olympia Dulzura Distant Love Fazendo Arte Festa do interior Forro Brazil Frevo Girl from Ipanema Grace Guajira Candela Hanon Merry Christmas Havana Me The Highway Hinde-who? Human Faith Melody Ijik Concentrate on You Join my Guilty Club Kwireboy Lalique Lapinha Lua Soberana Madalena Marcia Lopez Mas Que Nada Memory Gardens Merry Go Round Metropolis Mithras Miracles Montevideo Mucuripe New Age O Vendedor de Sonhos Old 100th One Note Samba Open Space Oye Como Va Paper Butterflies Partido Alto Past and Present Ponta Negra Ponteio Quiet Girl Raul Rhoda Ribbon Romaria Samberg San Vicente Sister Cheryl 6-Fortitude Spiritland Tequila Sunrise Staying Close Super Mario Bros. Tie Up Me Dress Thrash Samba Terry Toast and Jam Tombo in 7/4 Travessia Tristeza De Amar Uncle Frank Ulele Va Pensando Vauda s Song Vera Cruz Viver Do Amor Viva Hugo Waltz for Joe Wave Swing The Best Thing For You Falling in Love with Love Man, That Was a Dream Confirmation Get Happy I Didn’t know What Time it Was It Might as Well be Spring Lucky to be Me Misty Our Love is Here to Stay