ERNESTO'S CLUB
PIANO AND PERCUSSION DUO
DEDICATED TO SAMBA and CHORO
Ernesto’s Club is a piano and percussion duo which explores the choro and samba traditions of Brazil. Their name is a tribute to Ernesto Nazareth, the turn-of-the-century Brazilian composer who combined the Western classical with Afro-Brazilian traditions to create choro music, which evolved into samba, bossa nova and Musica Popular Brasileira. Their music is animated, joyful, and syncopated, and always bubbling with spontaneity. Both pianist Rob Curto and percussionist Gregg Mervine are Americans who learned their craft in Brazil, where they have lived off-and-on since the early 2000s.
Ernesto's Club hosts the wildly popular Roda de Samba e Choro at the Black Squirrel Club in Fishtown, Philadelphia, which occurs on the 1st Sundays of the month, from 3pm to 6pm. They are joined by Fernanda Bravo on vocals and percussion, Mark Stehle on percussion, as well as a host of special guests. Past guests have included singer Rose Moraes, guitarist Cesar Garabini, Os Bacanas, and horn players from the West Philadelphia Orchestra.
Ernesto's Club also performs as a jazz-style quartet of voice, piano, bass and drums, which allows them to explore the intersections of jazz, choro, samba and bossa nova.
The duo's debut EP, Nazareth, is available through Bandcamp and all streaming sites. It is four songs by Ernesto Nazareth: Odeon, Ameno Resedá, Faceira and Apanhei-te Cavaquinho. Have a listen and enjoy.
All Videos
All Videos
Ernesto's Club plays "Noites Cariocas"
Apanhei-te Cavaquinho
"Doce de Côco" performed by Ernesto's Club
"Ernesto's Club turned the Clubhouse into a Brazilian Jazz Club this afternoon with excellent music and an introduction into how Brazilian music developed during the same period that jazz did in the U.S in the 20th century. It would be great to have them back".-- Bonnie and Mike Frumer at Rydal Waters
"Rob Curto is truly a pianist/accordionist extraordinaire....He’s also great to work with--curating bands, customizing set lists for the audience, and even meeting with our marketing team to ensure the success of the event. He’s a concert presenter’s dream, creating a fun and welcoming vibe for the audience as he effortlessly mixes tunes and talk". --Marion Jacobson, Perkins Center for the Arts
