Oito Batutas

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1919–1923

Genres

choro, maxixe, música popular brasileira

Instruments

flute, guitar, cavaquinho, piano, mandolin, ganzá, bandola, reco-reco

Biography

The musical group Oito Batutas was created in 1919, in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together great exponents of our popular music under the artistic leadership of names like Pixinguinha and Donga. The original lineup featured Pixinguinha on the flute, Donga and Raul Palmieri on guitars, Nelson Alves on the cavaquinho, China on vocals, guitar, and piano, José Alves on the mandolin and ganzá, as well as Luis de Oliveira on the bandola and reco-reco. With a rich and diverse repertoire, the ensemble performed choros, maxixes, sertaneja songs, batuques, and cateretês, helping to shape the urban sound identity of the era.

The ensemble was born to perform in the waiting room of Cine Palais, at the request of manager Isaac Frankel, who had been enchanted by the previous work of Grupo Caxangá — where Donga, Pixinguinha, and the legendary acoustic guitarist João Pernambuco were already active. The success was resounding, turning Oito Batutas into an attraction that rivaled the films being shown, attracting illustrious admirers such as Rui Barbosa and Ernesto Nazareth. This popularity soon led them to play at high-society parties in Rio and at the prestigious Assírio cabaret.

Fueled by the enormous prestige achieved, the group undertook a historic trip to Paris in 1922, sponsored by Arnaldo Guinle, staying for a season at the Schéhérazade nightclub. After returning to Brazil, the musicians also toured Buenos Aires, where they recorded several albums with Argentine Victor, immortalizing their legacy in Latin American discography. The trajectory of Oito Batutas remains a fundamental milestone for the consolidation and international appreciation of choro and Brazilian culture.