Rhythm & Rio— unleash your inner Carnevalero!
If you hear the beat of the drums calling your name, if suddenly your hips have a life of their own, you’ll know you've surrendered to the irresistible charm of Rhythm & Rio – a forbidden journey to Carnevale on the last night of the year!
As you enter the ball, the mask we’ll give you will barely disguise your growing excitement because Rhythm & Rio is a thrilling experience for all your senses – with the vibrant colors of Carnevale, breathtaking samba dancers, exotic birds, magicians, a variety of chance games, mysterious psychic readers, a slithering snake lady, and so much more!
To keep your feet moving at the beat of your heart, the sultry sounds of Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers and the hot rhythms of Sambaguru will whisk you right onto the dance floor and you'll wonder if suddenly you're in the hot steamy nightlife of Rio itself!
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Voted the “Best Band in San Francisco,” this highly successful group of talented musicians will make you feel like dancing the whole night away. With her sultry vocals and world-class charisma, lead singer and bandleader Lavay Smith evokes the style of legendary singers Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Bessie Smith, all wrapped into one.
Each year, best-selling band Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers take time out from their busy schedules to perform at the Lincoln Center, The Montreal Jazz Festival and The Chicago Jazz Festival, among others. Not surprisingly, Lavay Smith’s musicians have performed and recorded with artists such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Frank Sinatra, Tito Puente, and many more.
Sambaguru
A true mosaic of samba-loving artists from different parts of the world, this band’s unique rhythm and sound has been captivating audiences throughout the whole country for over 10 years… and it’s sure to make your hips move like you were born to dance the Brazilian samba!
Sambaguru’s talent has been recognized in a variety of ways – from a 1st place win in the World Music category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, to a feature in the musical score for the film “Woman On Top”, a Fox Searchlight Film.