The Nation Beat

A Brooklyn-based group, Nation Beat has taken the seemingly impossible task of melding Afro-Brazilian rhythms of Maracatu, Chico Science and the Mangue Beat movement of Recife, Brazil, with the funk and jazz from New Orleans. Don’t let this overwhelm you; they play it flawlessly, taking your mind on a wild ride through so many countries, it’s possible you could forget where you actually started.

Within each song, your imagination is safe to be swept away only to find yourself on a safari through Africa, where tribes are beating their drums. Without notice you’ll find yourself dancing up a sweat on an outdoor, makeshift dance floor. Before you know it, magically, you’re on a raft, floating down the bayou, where the history of New Orleans’ big-band jazz days finds its way to your feet-which have already begun to move, without a doubt.


The end product of such masterful musical talent is an album that may make the average listener’s mind short-circuit. And don’t bother popping Nation Beat’s debut, Maracatuniversal, in for a relaxing night by the fire, ‘cause if a name like that doesn’t shed some light on what you’re in for, then my friend you’re on your own. Trust me, as soon as the first track begins to play, you instantly find every part of your body dancing and grooving like you didn’t even know it could. Take for instance, “Old Wooden Chair.” I’ve never heard anything like it. Upon hearing it, I found myself in the middle of a funky swing number, then, hello, samba anyone? It’s almost just too much fun to have in one five-minute song.

Unfortunately, I was only able to listen to five measly song selections from Nation Beat’s upcoming album, meaning luckily for those of us who will be making Maracatuniversal a part of ou music collections, there will be five more songs to enjoy from its release.

By now you have questions, I’m sure. First off, who in the heck is Nation Beat. Well, it’s as difficult to say as it is to describe their sound. One thing that can be determined, however, is that their founder, Scott Kettner, is really on to something here. Kettner, a drummer, percussionist, composer and recording artist appears to have started Nation Beat out of his passion for all genres of music, especially Brazilian, and even more precisely his love for the rhythms and instruments of Brazil. Thanks goodness for Kettner, too, else the cultural diversity presented in this music would be amiss. And according to my prediction, Kettner’s sound needs to sweep the country and enlighten our spirits.

While there may not be a test to see if you can actually pat and rub simultaneously, there is a requirement that when you see Nation Beat at the Soapbox, on April 1 at 9pm, you must dance. You’ll see, you just wait…..

-Lindsey Pendola
- Encore Magazine. Wilmington, NC