Xande Cruz

Bio:
Native Brazilian percussionist, singer, and composer Xande Cruz emerges with a new sound. His diverse combination of rhythms, inspired by his afro-brazilian roots, mixes percussion, electronics and fuses horns, vocals, and guitars. A descendant of an indigenous Brazilian father and a Bahian mother, Xande was born and raised in the largest city in South America, São Paulo. Being a percussionist, he approaches his sound from a rhythmic view and from there creates memorable harmonies woven into the fabric of his art and his identity. Lyrics inspired by experiences of love, social inequality, and cultural peculiarities of Brazil and the US. His music is fed by a pure and constant passion for his art, his homeland, and the “light at the beginning of the tunnel”.Recently, he has relocated to Philadelphia to continue his recording project, Luz.
The live show can be seen locally and regionally. The energy and power exchanged between the musicians and the audience is electrifying. Xande moves between percussion and vocals, both melodic and rap-like, with such energy and effortlessness. His presence is hypnotic…you can’t stop moving with him. Mixing his original music with traditional afro-brazilian songs and even some Bob Marley tunes, the live show brings the art of the studio project to an even greater level.

The Band:
Joining Xande, in both his recording project and in his live show, are a group of incredible musicians. Eric Hastings, drummer, came on board from the beginning of the Philadelphia recording project. Hastings work is well known, playing with other artists including Tania Alexandra. On bass and guitars, Tom Spiker joined the project first for live shows then continuing in his studio, It’s a Pleasure. Spiker, a member of the Calvin Weston’s Big Tree and author of the project Mobile Pleasure, played bass and guitars on several Cruz tracks and co-produced Desigualdade. Brazilian percussionist Zé Maurício accomplished in the New York scene. Maurício, performs with the group Beat the Donkey and the Choro Ensemble, as well as various other Brazilian groups. Lucas Rivera, turntablist and producer known for work with DJ Mo Green and has spun Philly, Miami and Connecticut. Rivera joins the band spinning and scratching. Dmuse graces the recordings and live performances with her vocals.

Reviews:
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
MUSIC YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT
BRAZILIAN MUSICIAN Xande Cruz has been spicing up the Philadelphia club scene with his music since his arrival in July 2002.
Xande (pronounced Sean-Gee) Cruz takes a lil' bit of the Afro-Brazilian music he was raised on, adding some percussion and electronic sounds. Then he meshes in some horns - and he's got himself a one-of-a-kind sound.
Listening beyond the Xande style, one hears lyrics where such issues as social inequality, Brazil-U.S. cultural differences and, of course, love are addressed.
Cruz's performances are also quite visual: Xande feverishly pounding the surdo, a bass drum, or the congas, while getting his body and his dreadlocks into the rhythm. He also uses recycled items such as plastic 5-gallon water jugs or various pieces of scrap metal to accentuate his Sound.
Cruz performed as a percussionist with bands in New York, Miami and Rio de Janiero before he settled in Philly.
The Sao Paolo native, who sells his current project, the EP "Luz," at his shows, performs tonight. He plays with his band Batukis, which includes Dmuse on vocals and Rue Capone on turntables. (Offstage, Dmuse is Cruz's wife, Deanna Hagan.)
Also playing with Xande will be renowned DJ Lucas Rivera on the turntables. Rivera has previously worked with Cruz, mixing house music to the title track of "Luz."
-Regina Medina, Philadelphia Daily News