this weekend, i saw an awesome bossa nova trio at an outdoor art show. the guitarist and the female vocalist, an astrud gilberto clone, were amazing.

what got my attention, naturally, was the drummer. he had what looked like a glorified trash can, set on its side, about 14-16 inches in diameter and about 3-4 feet long. it had a drum head on one end and the other was open. he sat on a drummer throne, astride the 'can,' his feet in front of it.

with his right hand, he played a light bossa nova beat with a wire brush on the open edge of the can, while his left hand patted a steady 1-2 bossa nova on the drum head, just like a kick drum.

he had the drum miked at the open end and he used a small cymbal down low there, too, for occasional crashes and riding. because it all ran through a very good pa, it created a perfect percussive sound.

it was a real lesson in how to make so much with so little.

i wondered if his 'drum' was a real brazilian instrument, or something he made himself? i never saw one like it before.
anyone know?

Trash can...
Like this?

Or possibly a Rebollo or tan tan, both straight sided long drums from brazil often used in small groups for the variety of sounds you can get, surdo lows and the body is often played sideways as described.

Or it might literally have been a trash can - seriously.

Carlinhos Brown uses one on occasion, and so do some other Brazilian percussionists.

Any chance you'll see these folks again, and maybe get to talk to the percussionist? I'd be very interested in finding out what this is (sounds like he made it), also seeing a photo.

Edited to add: I wonder if it's a modified (larger) tantan...  http://www.tdsounds.co.uk/product_info.php?pName=tan-tan-reto-rebolo-14-inches-artcelsior

(Or something like the carimbó drums here, but made of metal? http://maria-brazil.org/brazilian_dance_carimbo.htm - click on pics to enlarge.)

It *is* hard - I've tried it, too (with an actual metal trash can, also with aluminum buckets). I'm not there yet, in terms of coordination and all.

Edited to add: b-cero is the one who nailed this, a few posts above mine.

it could have just been a small surdo w/ the bottom head removed. the "third" is the one that is "allowed" to improvise in samba and batucada, if one is actually is following traditional practise.

bossa nova evolved out of samba, placing much more emphasis on melody and harmony, less on percussion-based rhythm.

elliot

...i do like that trash can, though...