San Diego Reader

The 2013 Global Spotlight Concert Series kicks off with Afro-Braziian funk and groove artist Dendê.

Dendê is a percussionist, singer, composer, bandleader, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. He's been a professional musician since the age of 14, when he appeared in the frontline of Timbalada, Carlinhos Brown's superstar percussion ensemble. Since 2001, he's been splitting his time between New York and Bahia, and has played with Mongo Santamaria, Giovanni Hidalgo, Zakir Hussain, David Bryne, and Vinicius Cantuária.