Banda Black Rio

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Genres

funk, soul, samba-funk, samba jazz, jazz fusion

Instruments

saxophone, trombone, trumpet, guitar, keyboards, piano, bass, drums, percussion

Biography

Banda Black Rio is one of the main exponents of Brazilian instrumental music, standing out for its pioneering fusion of funk, soul, samba-funk, jazz fusion, and samba jazz. The group was founded in 1976 by Rio-born saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Oberdan Magalhães, amidst the cultural effervescence of the Black Rio movement. Under Oberdan's leadership, the original lineup released national music milestones such as the influential album Maria Fumaça in 1977, as well as Gafieira Universal (1978) and Saci Pererê (1980). The first phase of the band came to an abrupt end with the passing of Oberdan Magalhães in January 1984.

After more than a decade of inactivity, the group was reformed in 1999 by William Magalhães, Oberdan's son, bringing new arrangements and sounds that engaged with rap and modernity. Under this new direction, the band released albums like Movimento in 2001 and Super Nova Samba Funk in 2011, the latter featuring contributions from major icons such as Gilberto Gil and Elza Soares. Throughout its trajectory, the group not only solidified its name in the history of Brazilian music alongside artists like Tim Maia and Raul Seixas, but also gained international projection, influencing global names in black music.

Discography

• Maria Fumaça (1977)
• Gafieira Universal (1978)
• Saci Pererê (1980)
• Movimento (2001)
• Magia Do Prazer / Tomorrow (2002)
• Caetano Veloso e Banda Black Rio – Bicho Baile Show (Ao Vivo - No Teatro Carlos Gomes - Em 1978) (2002)
• Rebirth (2003)
• Super Nova Samba Funk (2011)
• O Som das Américas (2019)