Orquestra Bamba Social (Portugal)

An eighteen-piece big-band based in Porto, Portugal, Orquestra Bamba Social blends samba with jazz, funk and hip-hop. Founded in 2012, the band has performed in venues and festivals across Europe and earned a wide following. Driven by a deep passion for Brazilian music, they craft original compositions and reimagine classic samba tunes, infusing them with contemporary flair. Acclaimed Brazilian producer Alceu Maia produced the band’s first EP and they have since released several albums in collaboration with some of Brazilian music’s biggest stars. Their 2024 project, Orquestra Bamba Social revisita Moacyr Luz, pays homage to the samba legend by reinterpreting his iconic works alongside original tracks.

Featured Songs:

The Brazilian samba icon Teresa Cristina is the featured vocalist on Orquestra Bamba Social’s version of the classic song “Berço do Afeto” (Cradle of Affection), an ode to the process of composing that is featured on Global Café. "The tip of the pencil sketches / The beginning of a song / Looking for the tonic syllable / Disassembling and assembling the chords on the guitar / Sliding on loose strings / The flower of a bud grows and sprouts / Perfuming the whole night / Immortalizing this song.”

“Começa com S” (Starts with S), featured on Bossa Nova, is a tribute to samba, Brazil’s most influential music style. They sing, “The only one who never left my side / Was always

samba / Never asking if I’m poor or rich / It doesn’t even knock when it wants to come in / If I’m alone or if I’m with friends / It is always there."

The Moacyr Luz composition “Toda A Hora” (All the Time), showcased on Putumayo's Brazilian Party, features a laid-back yet rhythmically rich samba groove, driven by syncopated percussion, cavaquinho, and smooth horn lines. The song reflects the lifestyle and mindset of someone who embraces late nights, samba, and social drinking as part of their identity and community. “I never made a friend drinking milk / I didn’t grow up on tea / I’m from the late-night scene, respect that / I know when it’s time to go to work.”

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