Azymuth is one of Brazil’s most quietly influential groups—an absolute cornerstone of jazz-funk, fusion, and what later got tagged as samba doido (“crazy samba”).
They formed in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1970s, and blended Brazilian samba rhythms, jazz harmony, funk grooves, early synthesizers and electric keyboards, into something futuristic but deeply rooted in Brazilian feel.
Classic lineup was José Roberto Bertrami, keyboards, and synths (the cosmic architect), Alex Malheiros, electric bass (rubber-band groove king), and Ivan “Mamão” Conti, drums (light, elastic, impossibly funky).
Essential listening
Azymuth (1975)
Light as a Feather (1979), a stone-cold classic
Telecommunication (1983), synth-funk perfection
Rapid Transit (1984)
Later albums on Far Out Recordings show how gracefully they aged into the 2000s without losing the groove.
The vibe, summed up
Cool, weightless, funky without trying too hard. Azymuth is music that floats, glides, and locks into a groove forever—perfect for deep listening or late-night cruising.