Cabo Frio is an American jazz-fusion band that formed in the late 1970s in San Diego, California. Blending jazz, funk, Latin, and rock influences, they became known for high-energy live shows, tight horn arrangements, and accessible fusion grooves. Their sound sits somewhere between the radio-friendly side of fusion and the more rhythm-driven, danceable jazz-funk approach popular in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
The group gained regional popularity on the U.S. West Coast and built a loyal following through touring, college radio airplay, and strong musicianship rather than major-label promotion.
Core Members, (lineups shifted over time; these were key figures in the band’s classic era) - John Phillips, keyboards; Todd Robinson, saxophone; Dick Sly, bass;
Frank “Savage” Barbalace, drums; Peter Sprague, guitar (early association); Danny Wheetman, guitar (later lineup).
Albums
Just Having Fun (1981)
Right on the Money (1983)