Ivan Conti

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Mamão

Years Active

1960–2023

Genres

jazz fusion, samba-jazz, MPB, acid jazz, samba, funk

Instruments

drums, acoustic guitar

Biography

Ivan Miguel Conti Maranhão, widely known by the nickname "Mamão", was born in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 1946. He began his artistic journey playing acoustic guitar in a bossa nova trio called Os Dissonantes, before transitioning to rock with the band The Youngsters in the 1960s. However, it was as a drummer and composer that he achieved national and international prominence, especially when he co-founded, alongside José Roberto Bertrami and Alex Malheiros, the renowned instrumental trio Azymuth.

With Azymuth, the musician helped consolidate a unique sound that blended samba, funk, and jazz fusion, a style affectionately named by the group as "samba doido" (crazy samba). The band achieved great international prominence starting in the 1980s and, later, experienced a resurgence driven by the acid jazz movement. Throughout his career, Mamão collaborated with several MPB icons, including Roberto Carlos, Jorge Ben, Paulinho da Viola, Vinicius de Moraes, Chico Buarque, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, and Raul Seixas, in addition to maintaining an expressive solo discography.

The artist passed away in his hometown on April 17, 2023, leaving a lasting legacy in Brazilian instrumental music. His contribution to percussion and drums in samba-jazz remains a fundamental reference for new generations of musicians. Azymuth continued to influence the global music scene, keeping alive the unmistakable beat created by Ivan Conti.

Discography

• The Human Factor (1984)
• Batida Diferente (1992)
• Pulsar (1997)
• Paradise (2002)
• Pulsar (Performance) (2018)
• Poison Fruit (2019)
• Katmandu (2020)