Soma

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1969–1973

Genres

jazz-rock, psychedelic rock, rock

Instruments

bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, flute

Biography

The band Soma was a Brazilian jazz-rock group formed in 1969 in Rio de Janeiro. The American bassist Bruce Henry, settled in Brazil, was the creator of the project after attending a concert by the group A Bolha. Henry brought together American guitarists Jaime Shields and Ricardo Peixoto, and drummer Alyrio Lima, forming the quartet.

Soma had a short, yet striking, existence in the Rio de Janeiro music scene. The band performed at small events and participated in the recording of Jards Macalé's first record, the single "Só Louco", in 1970. In 1971, the group released four songs on the compilation "Barbarella", edited in England. Despite having recorded the soundtrack for a film about Ronald Biggs, which was never released, Soma left a legacy of experimentation and fusion of styles.

In 1973, Bruce Henry reformed the band, with Tomás Improta on keyboards, Áureo de Souza on drums, and Ritchie on flute. This line-up performed alongside names like Mutantes and O Terço, and participated in the album "Banquete dos Mendigos". The band broke up definitively in 1973, with Henry's return to the United States. Soma's work, although limited, is an important record of Brazilian psychedelic rock and jazz-rock from the 70s.