Zeca Assumpção

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

José Thomaz de Assumpção

Years active

1970

Genres

jazz, instrumental music, mpb, avant-garde

Instruments

double bass, electric bass, piano, percussion

Biography

Zeca Assumpção, born in São Paulo on September 19, 1945, is a renowned Brazilian double bassist, arranger, and composer. In the 1970s, he furthered his musical studies at the Berklee College of Music in the United States, where he had the opportunity to live and study with important figures in international music. Back in Brazil, he consolidated a highly prestigious career by accompanying and recording with some of the greatest exponents of our music, such as Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, and Caetano Veloso.

Throughout his career, he stood out not only as a studio and stage instrumentalist — boasting hundreds of recordings — but also as an important name in musical avant-garde by joining Grupo Um alongside Lelo Nazário and Zé Eduardo Nazário. His versatility led him to move through various genres and formations, establishing long-standing partnerships, such as his approximately twenty-year collaboration with Egberto Gismonti, with whom he undertook numerous international tours.

In addition to his work in instrumental and popular music, Zeca Assumpção built a solid reputation as a composer of soundtracks for film, theater, and contemporary dance. His creations for companies such as Lia Rodrigues's earned him significant awards, such as the RioDança prize, in addition to being recognized by specialized publications as one of the best bassists in the country.