Chico Batera

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1960

Genres

mpb, bossa nova, jazz, samba

Instruments

percussion, drums, vibraphone

Biography

Francisco José Tavares de Souza, known professionally as Chico Batera, is a renowned Brazilian percussionist, drummer, and composer born in Rio de Janeiro. Growing up in Madureira, he immersed himself in the local rhythms of the Império Serrano samba school before launching his professional career at the age of seventeen. During the 1960s, he became a prominent figure in the vibrant nightlife of Rio de Janeiro, performing at iconic venues like the Night and Day nightclub and Beco das Garrafas alongside influential artists such as Johnny Alf, Bossa Três, and Sergio Mendes. His early international exposure included touring American universities with the ensemble "Brasil 65," which featured notable talents like Jorge Ben and Wanda Sá.

Throughout his extensive career, Chico Batera has collaborated with a vast array of legendary musicians both in Brazil and abroad. While living in Los Angeles, he expanded his sonic palette by incorporating diverse percussion instruments and recording with international icons like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, and Tom Jobim, notably participating in the historic 1974 recording sessions for the landmark album Elis & Tom. Upon returning to Brazil permanently, he established himself as an in-demand studio and touring musician, working with giants of MPB and rock such as Elis Regina, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Gal Costa, and Raul Seixas. In addition to releasing his own acclaimed solo albums, including the 2006 release Lume, he has dedicated himself to education through the Oficina Brasileira de Percussão, teaching musical theory and practice to youth in the Complexo da Maré.