Djavan

Origin

Maceió, AL

Also known as

Djavan Caetano Viana

Years Active

1972

Genres

MPB, samba, jazz, soul, blues, bossa nova, flamenco

Instruments

vocals, acoustic guitar

Biography

Born in Maceió, Alagoas, Djavan Caetano Viana grew up influenced by his mother's love for Brazilian icons like Angela Maria and Dalva de Oliveira. Although he initially showed promise as a professional soccer player for the CSA club, his passion for music, sparked by the Beatles and sophisticated local sounds, led him to pick up the guitar at sixteen. In 1972, he relocated to Rio de Janeiro to pursue a professional career, working as a nightclub singer and recording soap opera soundtracks before gaining national fame in televised festivals with the song "Fato Consumado."

His debut album in 1976, "A Voz, o Violão, a Música de Djavan," introduced a revolutionary, syncopated samba style that immediately caught the attention of critics and the public. His hit "Flor de Lis" became a classic, establishing him as a master of sophisticated harmony and poetic lyrics. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Djavan collaborated with Brazilian legends such as Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso, the latter of whom famously coined the verb "djavanear" in his song "Sina" to describe the artist's unique musical approach and lyrical sensibility.

Djavan's career is defined by a seamless blend of MPB with jazz, soul, and funk, achieving international acclaim through high-profile collaborations and recordings in Los Angeles. Over five decades, he has released nearly 30 albums, including landmarks like "Luz," "Lilás," and "Oceano." He remains a towering figure in Brazilian music, managing his own label, Luanda Records, and continuing to innovate with projects that reflect both his African and European ancestry and his profound connection to the Northeastern Brazilian soul.

Discography

• A Voz, o Violão, a Música de Djavan (1976)
• Djavan (1978)
• Alumbramento (1979)
• Seduzir (1981)
• Luz (1982)
• Pétala (1982)
• Lilás (1984)
• Esquinas (1984)
• Meu Lado (1986)
• Não É Azul mas É Mar (1987)
• Dou-Não-Dou (1987)
• Stephen's Kingdom (1988)
• Bird Of Paradise (1988)
• Djavan, Ivan Lins – Brazilian Knights And A Lady (1988)
• Puzzle Of Hearts (1989)
• Cigano (1989)
• Djavan (1989)
• Vida Real (Dejame Ir) (1989)
• Coisa de Acender (1992)
• Linha Do Equador (1992)
• Alumbramento & Cara de Indio (1992)
• Novena (1994)
• Malásia (1996)
• Bicho Solto O XIII (1998)
• Preferencia Nacional (1998)
• Ao Vivo Volume 1 (1999)
• Ao Vivo Volume 2 (1999)
• Ao Vivo - Volumes 1 E 2 (1999)
• Djavan "Ao Vivo" - Vol.II (1999)
• Djavan "Ao Vivo" (1999)
• Bis (2000)
• Milagreiro (2001)
• Vaidade (2004)
• Na Pista, Etc. (2005)
• Matizes (2007)
• Ária (2010)
• Ária Ao Vivo (2011)
• Rua dos Amores (2012)
• Rua dos Amores (Ao Vivo) (2014)
• Obra Completa De 1976 A 2010 (2014)
• Vidas pra Contar (2015)
• Vesúvio (2018)
• D (2022)
• Ao Vivo no Montreux Jazz Festival (1997) (2022)
• D Ao Vivo Maceió (2024)
• Origem (2024)
• Origem (73-75) (2024)
• Improviso (2025)
• Entrevista