A NEW community samba band is starting up in Frome beginning with a free trial session on Wednesday 3rd May.
Jamma de Samba, which runs a successful band in Bath and has been an integral part of the city’s carnival, is now branching into Frome with a new band starting next month.
Amateurs and musicians alike are encouraged to join in the fun day and try their hand at drumming, before a seven week programme is launched to train a band in the town.
Samba is a Brazilian genre of music typically based on groups of percussionists, and is central to carnival culture.
Founder of Jamma de Samba, Robbie Verrecchia told Frome Times, “The best thing about samba is that anyone can do it. Rhythms can be simple for beginners or more complex for experienced musicians, and we like to have a real mix of people all doing it together.
“The trial session is totally free and anyone can come along whether they are interested in joining the band or not – the important thing for us is that people enjoy themselves.”
The session will take place at Frome’s Steiner Academy, on Park Road, from 7.30pm to 9pm, on Wednesday 3rd May.
Then people will be given the option of joining a seven week programme from 10th May, costing £35 per person, in which people will learn more rhythms and start a band.
The Bath band has around 40 members and there is also a popular Bath Spa University society.
Robbie added, “We are starting the classes in Frome because we’ve been asked by local people, and we’ve had our eyes on the town for a while; it has a reputation for creativity and musicians.
“We’d like to keep going in the town for the forseeable future, if we can get enough people involved. It would be great to work towards performing at local events. We’re hoping it will be popular!”
To find out more about Jamma de Samba go to www.jammadesamba.co.uk or find them on Facebook and Twitter.