Zimbo Trio

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years Active

1964

Genres

instrumental, bossa nova, samba-jazz, MPB

Instruments

piano, double bass, drums, electric bass

Biography

Formed in São Paulo in March 1964, the Zimbo Trio is one of the most influential instrumental ensembles in the history of Brazilian music. The original lineup featured Amilton Godói on piano, Luís Chaves on double bass, and Rubinho Barsotti on drums. Their name, "Zimbo," is derived from Afro-Brazilian vocabulary meaning good luck and success, and was also a term for ancient currency used in the Congo, Angola, and colonial Brazil. The group made its debut at the Boate Oásis accompanying singer Norma Bengell in a show produced by Aloysio de Oliveira, where they performed works by legendary composers like Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes.

The trio achieved national stardom in 1965 as the resident band for the TV Record program 'O Fino da Bossa,' hosted by Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues. This platform allowed them to showcase their sophisticated blend of bossa nova and jazz to a wide audience. In 1968, they participated in a landmark concert at the Teatro João Caetano alongside Elizeth Cardoso, Jacob do Bandolim, and the ensemble Época de Ouro, a performance that resulted in several historic live recordings. Beyond performance, the group made a lasting impact on Brazilian music education by founding the Centro Livre de Aprendizagem Musical (CLAM) in 1973, a school that has trained generations of professional musicians.

Over a career spanning more than five decades and over 50 albums, the Zimbo Trio toured all five continents, acting as global ambassadors for Brazilian instrumental music. Following the passing of Luís Chaves in 2007 and Rubinho Barsotti in 2020, the group has evolved with new members such as Mario Andreotti and Percio Sapia joining founding pianist Amilton Godói. Their discography includes collaborations with diverse artists such as Maurício Einhorn, Sebastião Tapajós, and even international jazz figures, while always maintaining a core identity rooted in the sophisticated rhythms of Brazil.

Discography

• Zimbo Trio (1964)
• Elis Regina e Zimbo Trio – O Fino do Fino ("Ao Vivo", no Teatro Record) (1965)
• Zimbo Trio Vol. 2 (1965)
• Zimbo Trio (1966)
• Vol 3 (1967)
• Zimbo Trio + Cordas - É Tempo de Samba (1967)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio & Jacob Do Bandolim – Vol. 1 (1968)
• Zimbo Trio + Cordas Volume 2 (1968)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio & Jacob Do Bandolim – Vol. 2 (1968)
• Decisão (1969)
• Elizeth e Zimbo Trio Balançam na Sucata (1969)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio – É de Manhã (1970)
• Strings And Brass Plays The Hits (1971)
• Opus-Pop (1972)
• Opus Pop Nº 2 (1973)
• F.M. Stereo (1974)
• Zimbo (1976)
• Elizeth Cardoso, Jacob do Bandolim, Zimbo Trio, Época de Ouro – Vol. 3 - Fragmentos Inéditos do Histórico Recital (1977)
• Zimbo (1978)
• Zimbo Convida Sonny Stitt (1979)
• Sebastião Tapajós & Zimbo Trio – Sincopando (1981)
• Zimbo Convida (1982)
• Trocando em Miúdos, a Tristeza do Jeca... (1983)
• Zimbo Trio Interpreta Milton Nascimento (1986)
• Garôta de Ipanema (1987)
• Zimbo Trio e o Tom - Tributo a Tom Jobim Volume 1 (1988)
• Elizeth Cardoso, Jacob do Bandolim, Zimbo Trio & Conjunto Época de Ouro – Gravado Ao Vivo no Teatro João Caetano (1989)
• Zimbo Trio e as Crianças (1989)
• Clã do Clam (1992)
• Aquarela Do Brasil (1993)
• Canhoto da Paraíba e Zimbo Trio (1993)
• Claudya & Zimbo Trio – Entre Amigos (1994)
• Zimbo Trio Interpreta Tom Jobim – Caminhos Cruzados (1995)
• Zimbo Trio / Mauricio Einhorn – Música Viva (1995)
• 35 Anos Ao Vivo (1999)
• Zimbo Trio, Roberto Menescal, Wanda Sá, Leny Andrade, os Cariocas – 40 Anos de Bossa (1999)
• Bossa Nova Jazz (2001)
• Tributo A Elis Regina (2003)
• Leny Andrade, Marcos Valle, Miéle, os Cariocas, Roberto Menescal, Wanda Sá, Zimbo Trio – Bossa Nova, Ao Vivo (2005)
• Zimbo Ao Vivo (2007)
• Autoral (2011)
• World Music: Piano, Vol.1 (2013)
• Instrumental no CCBB (2016)
• Dê uma Canja - Projeto Radamés Gnattali - Vol. 3
• Marcelo Freitas (5) & Zimbo Trio – Embalada
• Vol 4
• Elizeth Cardoso, Zimbo Trio, Jacob do Bandolim, Época de Ouro – Ao Vivo no Teatro João Caetano