Brazilian Beat was first started by DJ Sean Marquand in June of 2001 at Black Betty in Williamsburg, initially as a way to share the music he'd bought during a two-year period living in Salvador, Bahia.As the months went on, the party began to take shape with the arrival on the scene of Claudio Meduza and, eventually, Greg Caz. The Sunday night weekly's focus gradually shifted from its psych/Tropicalia origins to a samba-rock groove. Samba-rock was then enjoying something of a renaissance in its homeland by virtue of being discovered by middle-class youth and acknowledged for the first time by Brazil's mainstream media in 2001/'02.
At the same time, Caz's use of traditional samba dancefloor killers further upped the intensity and energy of the party, and the party's reputation began to spread. A series of promotional mix CDs, beginning with 2003's now-classic "Baile Funk Vol. 1," made their way around the world and brought further notoriety.
After four eventful years, Brazilian Beat Brooklyn now stands as the duo of Marquand and Caz, with Meduza making appearances on special occasions. And the party goes on every Sunday at Black Betty!
