To truly understand the evolution of Brazilian music through the '70s, '80s, and '90s, you have to start with Azymuth, the trio formed in 1973 by percussionist Ivan Conti, keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami, and bassist Alex Malheiros — today the sole survivor of that legendary lineup, born under the wing of composer and spiritual father of Brazilian soul, Marcos Valle. It was Valle, in fact, who brought the three musicians together for the soundtrack to the film O Fabuloso Fittipaldi. During the recording session, while playing a track called Azimuth (Mil Milhas), the trio realized just how well things clicked and decided to try their luck as a band. They took their name from the very song that had brought them together: Azimuth, soon after changed to Azymuth.
The rest, as they say, is History with a capital H: a career that, having passed the half-century mark, now spans 35 albums and countless concerts around the world. It's been an exhilarating path, one that has carried the samba tradition beyond many borders — both mental and stylistic — infusing it with sounds like soul, dance-floor jazz, funk, psychedelia, and electronica, alongside other strands of Brazil's musical heritage. From the note-perfect fusion of their first major hit, Jazz Carnival, to the driving breakbeat of Folklore, by way of the dreamlike samba of Chão de Terra, the sophisticated soul of Faça de Conta, the electric samba of Mimosa, and the feverish, restless funk of O Lance.
After a stint with the legendary New York label Milestone during the 1980s, the band has released its work since the mid-'90s through the British label Far Out Recordings, for whom they've recorded a dozen albums — the most recent, 2025's Marca Passo, proof that their creative spark remains as fresh and vibrant as ever, more than five decades in.
The last survivor
Like their mentor and spiritual father Marcos Valle, Azymuth have visited Barcelona on several occasions, always leaving the city's audiences with an outstanding impression.
On September 29, they return to the city — specifically to La Nau in Poblenou — led by Alex Malheiros, the last surviving member of the original lineup and, by now, its proverbial torchbearer, joined by keyboardist Dudu Viana and percussionist Renato "Massa" Calmon.
An exhilarating path that has carried the samba tradition beyond many borders
Father to fellow artist Sabrina Malheiros, the bassist and composer has spent the bulk of his career tightly bound to Azymuth, though since the 1980s he's also put out a number of compelling solo works, including Atlantic Forest, Zenith, and his recent Tempos Futuros.
Revered, sampled, quoted, imitated, and remixed by some of the finest musicians, producers, and DJs on the planet — heavyweight names like Madlib, Theo Parrish, Jazzanova, and 4 Hero have all openly drawn on this sound, one capable of fusing acoustic Brazilian roots with synthesizers, Moogs, and electric bass — Azymuth today represent a legacy of more than 50 years of Brazilian musical evolution. Pure, living history.