Welcome
Experience the Rhythms of Brazil
Join us for a vibrant Brazilian music event coming to the Lyric Theater in November!
About The Thrill of Brazil
Our Origin Story
The Thrill of Brazil was founded by Carlo Holbrook and Phil Fest with the aim of bringing the vibrant rhythms and sounds of the Brazilian culture to audiences in the Treasure Coast. Our seven talented musicians come together to create an unforgettable musical experience.
About the Band
Our Musical Roots
Carla Holbrook
At the age of nineteen, Carla moved to Jacksonville and began playing in clubs with the likes of Ron Perry and Richard Smith of 80's band China Sky. In 2000, she toured the U.S. performing at various venues and aboard The Grand Princess cruise ship. Music brought Carla to San Francisco in 2004 where she teamed up with Keith Kane (Vertical Horizon), Matthew Charles Heulitt (The Narada Michael Walden Band, Zigaboo Modeliste's New Aahkesstra) and Salvador Santana (The Salvador Santana Band). It was here Carla signed on as lead vocalist for the Salvador Santana Band. From 2004 until 2006 the band toured as the supporting act for Grammy award winning Carlos Santana. During the European tour (2006), Carla joined as Carlos Santana's female guest vocalist and continued to share the stage with Santana on several other occasions in California. Both the North American and European tours had her touring with The Los Lonley Boys, Ozomatli, as well as Robert Randolph and the Family Band.
Phill Fest
Phill Fest’s background and training give his musicality a unique twist uncommon for his generation, he was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in a musical family. His father is a recording artist and his mother a composer and music instructor. Phill was exposed to Brazilian and American Jazz right from the start. “I remember hangin’ with Sergio Mendez backstage many times as a kid.” His father, Manfredo Fest, was the Keyboardist and Music Director for Bossa Rio, the opening act for Brasil ’66 for three years. Phill started guitar at age 16, having already studied clarinet and violin, the ‘six string’ came easy. He has traveled the world with many national acts and enjoys performing Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Tropical Jazz and international music with a very versatile repertoire of music.
Ben Sparrow
A saxophonist with a "timeless" and "sincere" musical approach, Ben loves to connect with people across South Florida through music. He also enjoys his collaborations with various national and international acts. Ben's passion is creating authentic and joyful music that resonates with the audience.
Born and raised in central North Carolina and having relocated to South Florida in 2011, Ben's music is a tapestry of both traditional and contemporary jazz idioms as well as
Latin American music, with overtones of gospel, blues and funk.
Ben was born into a musical family in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area who recognized and nurtured his gifts. His mother, who sang and played flute, and his grandmother, a church pianist, taught Ben from a young age and encouraged him to sing, compose and play various instruments. Singing became a passion in childhood, and then the saxophone.
After studying with Ron Cozzolino throughout high school, Ben went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance with a concentration in jazz studies as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from East Carolina University. He was blessed with many wonderful mentors at and around the university, including Ernest Turner, Jeff Bair, Carroll Dashiell and Stephen Riley.
Since that time, Ben has performed with many different artists such as the North Carolina Symphony, The Drifters featuring Rick Sheppard, the Boca SYMPHONIA, Under the Streetlamp, Florida Wind Symphony Jazz Orchestra, Tom Regis, Phill Fest, Courtney Jones and Jerome Degey. You will find him regularly and often performing around South Florida in various musical venues: theaters, festivals, restaurants, bars and in the halls of academia.
Two projects occupy the most of his creative attention at the moment: the Delray Jazz Collective with Tom Regis and Peter Primamore as well as his bossa nova/braz jazz collaboration with guitarist/vocalist Phill Fest.
He formerly taught band at Boca Raton High School and now teaches general music at West Gate Elementary in West Palm Beach, FL. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member at Palm Beach State College, teaching saxophone. He also directs a concert series at Truth Point Church that features his original compositions and arrangements of both sacred and secular music. Ben is sought after as a consultant and guest artist.
Capture the rhythm: Our musical journey in photos
