In August 2024, BEATnDRUM were delighted to connect with German musician Christophe Wirtz, representing the Brazilian-inspired jazz ensemble Tudo Azul, based in Hannover. Christophe discovered BEATnDRUM while researching the UNESCO City of Music network and felt there was great potential for collaboration. With Hannover celebrating 10 years as a UNESCO City of Music, the city’s Culture Office were keen to support projects, and so the Rhythms of Connection project was born.
Thanks to the support of Belfast City Council and the Hannover Culture Office, BEATnDRUM began conversations with Christophe and the Tudo Azul musicians, sharing our passion for Brazilian music, the styles we enjoy, and ideas for creating a joint repertoire. Together, we shaped the project’s aims: to connect people across cultures and generations through rhythm and music, inspired by Brazil’s unique blend of African, European and Indigenous influences.
The collaboration brought together six Tudo Azul musicians and four from BEATnDRUM, combining talents to present a repertoire of 17 pieces of music. After an extended rehearsal at RAMPE arts venue on Friday 22 August, the musicians bonded over food and conversation before taking their first performance to one of Hannover’s most exciting cultural spaces, the floating venue Zukunst.
As the boat cruised through the city’s waterways, audiences gathered on deck, on bridges, and along the riverbank to enjoy the music. The evening closed with a lively quayside performance that captured the project’s spirit of openness and connection.
The following day, the collaboration moved to Hannover city centre for a performance at the Musik Kiosk, a temporary cultural hub created to mark the 10-year UNESCO anniversary. Despite heavy rain earlier in the day, the weather cleared just in time, allowing around 100 people to gather and enjoy the show. The energy was electric, with the audience singing, clapping, and joining in throughout.
On Sunday 24 August, BEATnDRUM led a workshop alongside Tudo Azul at RAMPE, exploring traditional Brazilian genres, rhythms and songs with both musicians and members of the public. The four-hour session highlighted the joy of cultural exchange and the universal language of rhythm.
The Rhythms of Connection project was a hugely rewarding experience for all involved. Working with Tudo Azul felt like a natural partnership, with each group bringing complementary skills and ideas. The exchange also sparked early conversations about a potential reciprocal visit to Belfast in the future.
We are very grateful to Belfast City Council and the Hannover Culture Office for their support in making this project possible, and to our new friends in Tudo Azul for their creativity and generosity.
