Azymuth

Azymuth is a globally renowned, highly influential Brazilian jazz-funk trio founded in the early 1970s. Not to be confused with the British group Azimuth, their breezy fusion of electric jazz, pop, MPB, samba, tropical disco, and electronic music has influenced three generations of musicians, DJs, and producers. The original trio of José Roberto Bertrami on acoustic piano and keyboards, Alex Malheiros on bass, and Ivan Conti on drums, called their music "samba doido," which means "crazy samba." The actual sounds were not so crazy, but their intelligent, high-voltage blend of Brazilian rhythms, jazz, and funk -- with occasional acoustic episodes -- gained a sizable following in the '80s. In addition to a hefty catalog comprising more than two-dozen albums, the trio has been remixed by a who's-who of 21st century DJs and producers including Theo Parrish, 4Hero, Kirk Degiorgio, Ashley Beedle, and Jazzanova. After Bertrami's death in 2012, Azymuth recruited keyboardist and composer Kiko Continentino. Beginning with their self-titled album on Som Livre, which netted the hit singles "Manha" and "Faca de Conta," their fully developed sound -- complete with tight charts, sensual textures, infectious rhythms, and intricate, gentle melodies combined with a love of technology -- registered with listeners. Light as a Feather, their 1979 breakthrough for the American Milestone label, netted the jazz-disco fusion hit single "Jazz Carnival." Azymuth went on to record a string of albums during the '80s, including Outubro, Telecommunication, and Rapid Transit. They became one of the world's great jazz bands, whose sound -- like peers Weather Report -- translated to dance club DJs. They split in 1990, reunited in 1995, and signed to the U.K.'s Far Out label, with Carnival appearing the following year. Azymuth have been with the label ever since, delivering a series of acclaimed albums including 2002's Partido Novo, 2008's Butterfly, and 2016's Fenix. They've also teamed with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad to record 2020's Azymuth JID004, an installment in that duo's Jazz Is Dead series.