PRD Mais - Rittenhouse (2017)

In 2016 the group traveled to Philadelphia to record their debut album Rittenhouse at Rittenhouse Soundworks, a studio run by close friend and fellow percussionist Jim Hamilton. There they were joined by two world-class woodwind specialists: Carlos Malta, one of the world's most influential Brazilian musicians and Chris Bullock, member of the powerhouse group Snarky Puppy. The album was conceived as an audiovisual project, with equal weight given to the sonic and visual aspects of the work. The audio was recorded by Peter Tramo and then mixed by Marcos Suzano, a revolutionary Brazilian percussionist who transformed his field and inspired generations of musicians thereafter. To capture their performance visually, PRD Mais invited Daniel Lobo and Micael Hocherman, prominent filmmakers in the Rio de Janeiro artistic community, to film the session in a first-rate manner. This collaboration, between Brazilian and American musicians, audio engineers, and filmmakers, produced an album of eleven tracks—each with a high-quality cinematic video of the live recording session. While these videos are immersive and breathtaking, PRD Mais shines even brighter in live performance. Each individual brings their own unique skill set that serves as part of a larger musical tapestry, but their common roots allow for seamless communication and spontaneity onstage. As powerful as a samba batucada, yet with all the sensitivity of a chamber orchestra, PRD Mais captivates audiences with musical prowess and undeniable joy.