Percussionist

Alex Talbot

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About Alex

10 years at the heart of Rio Carnival. Authentic Brazilian percussion straight from the greatest show on Earth!
Alex Talbot's profile picture
Percussionist
London

Alex is a world renowned expert in Brazilian samba percussion and has been producing shows across the globe for over a decade. A specialist of spectacle, Alex combines a unique experience in theatre and carnival arts to create moments that leave audiences picking their jaws off the dance floor. Solo shows, roaming bands and full stage shows. No request is too small or too ambitious. Alex is a regular at Rio Carnaval, personally known amongst the city’s elite samba schools and top street Blocos (party bands)… having played to 100,000 people in the legendary Sambadrome of Rio de Janeiro. Alex combines exceptional client care with a dedicated (and undeniably authentic) delivery of Rio Carnaval culture at his shows. Percussion and song combine to create powerful musical story telling scarcely found outside of Brazil.

Alex's Reviews

From customers:

RY
Reyhan Y
1 year ago

Highly recommend!!

EE
Emmanuel E
1 year ago

10/10 would recommend...

Read all 3 reviews

Alex's Song list

Songs from Rio carnival:
A Dança da Lua (Estácio de Sá 1993)
Agudas (Tijuca 2003)
Aquarela Brasileira (Império Serrano 1964)
Berço dos Imigrantes (Império Serrano 1977)
Bom Bonito e Barato (União da Ilha 1980)
Caymmi Mostra Ao Mundo... (Mangueira 1986)
Chão de Devoção (Estácio de Sá 2024)
Chica da Silva (Salgueiro 1963)
Contos de Areia (Portela 1984)
Corpo Fechado (Salgueiro 2025)
Estrela Dalva (Imperatriz 1987)
Festa pra um Rei Negro (Salgueiro 1971)
Heróis da Liberdade (Império Serrano 1969)
Hutukara (Salgueiro 2024)
Kizomba (Vila Isabel 1988)
Lendas das Sereias (Império Serrano 1976)
Lunário (Porto da Pedra 2024)
Vira, Virou, a Mocidade Chegou (Mocidade 1990)
Minha Madrinha, Mangueira Querida (Salgueiro 1972)
O Amanhã (União da Ilha 1978)
O Dono da Terra (Tijuca 1999)
O Filho Fiel, Sempre Mangueira (Mangueira 2011)
Peguei um Ita no Norte (Salgueiro 1993)
Salgueiro, Minha Paixão... (Salgueiro 2003)
Skindô Skindô (Salgueiro 1984)
Tambor (Salgueiro 2009)
Templo Negro... (Salgueiro 1989)
Other songs in Portuguese:
Alguém Me Avisou
Argumento
Banho de Folhas
Cadência do Samba
Emoriô
Ê D’Oxum
Festa no Morro
Gostava Tanto de Você
Identidade
Ijexá
Isto Aqui
Lucidez
Mas Que Nada
Não Deixe o Samba Morrer
Não Quero Dinheiro
Palco
Tá Escrito
Tive Razão
Trem das Onze
Tristeza Pé no Chão
Songs in English:
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
All of Me – John Legend
At Last – Etta James
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley / Kina Grannis version
Make You Feel My Love – Adele
You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
Your Song – Elton John / Ellie Goulding version
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Lover – Taylor Swift
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
Shivers – Ed Sheeran
Heaven – Bryan Adams / DJ Sammy Acoustic version
Yellow – Coldplay
Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
Love on Top – Beyoncé
Marry Me – Train
Speechless – Dan + Shay
Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
Dancing Queen – ABBA
September – Earth, Wind & Fire
Valerie – Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
Crazy in Love – Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Angels – Robbie Williams
Wonderwall – Oasis
Thinking of You – Sister Sledge
Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
She’s Electric – Oasis
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
500 Miles (I'm Gonna Be) – The Proclaimers
Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) – Stevie Wonder
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
My Girl – The Temptations
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
We Found Love – Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
Treasure – Bruno Mars
Ho Hey – The Lumineers
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
You’ve Got the Love – Florence + The Machine
One Day Like This – Elbow

Alex's Prices

Last updated: 2025

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
DurationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£187.50
Up to 1 hour£250
Up to 2 hours£625
Up to 3 hours£1250
Packages
Epic Drums Show
Authentic samba drumming parade with 7 musicians: 1 x 20min stage performance
£1875
Rio Bloco Experience
Authentic parade experience with roaming musicians, including drums, saxophone, guitar and vocalists. 1 x 30min parade
£2500
Ultimate Rio Show
Complete samba school drums show direct from Rio with drummers, singers and guitarists. 1 x 10min parade 2 x 30min stage show Audience interaction guaranteed.
£6250

Add-ons

DJ set
+£375
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Punctual, organised, communicative and authentic. Providing polished one-of-a-kind performances with a unique combination of industry experience.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

In London: The Connaught The Dorchester The Savoy The Emory Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park The Langham, London Sushisamba The Lanesborough The Goring Park Hyatt London River Thames

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

100 years of Samba School culture in Rio de Janeiro, simply too many artists to name.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Musical Director residency at a private residency in The Maldives.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

In London, there is no limit to set flexibility. Evening gigs are blocked out exclusively for the client.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes. I can provide a DJ for sets throughout your event, and have all common adapter types for Phone audio input into PA system.

How much time do you need to set up?

1.5 hours minimum, subject to extraordinary venue requirements.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Book a consultation and we will curate the perfect set for your event, incorporating requests.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, subject to extraordinary venues requirements which we will asses during consultation.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes, we can learn and arrange basically any music you suggest at an additional fee of £50 per song.
Musicianship
Genres:
Brazilian music, Cuban music, Caribbean music, Latin, Samba, World music
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Private event, Corporate event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Wedding
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Other skills:
Arranger, Audio engineer, Composer, Producer, Sound technician, Transcription, Fluent improviser, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Singing teaching, Composition teaching, Community music worker
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