Azymuth

The Profile

Azymuth is a Brazilian jazz-funk trio formed in the early 1970s in Rio de Janeiro by Ivan Conti, José Roberto Bertrami, and Alex Malheiros. They fused samba with jazz and funk—coining the term “samba doido”—and broke out internationally with Light as a Feather (1979) and its opener Jazz Carnival. Classic follow-ups include Águia Não Come Mosca, Outubro, and Telecommunications.

Brazilian trio from Rio de Janeiro blending samba, jazz and funk (“samba doido”); core members: Ivan Conti (drums/percussion), José Roberto Bertrami (keyboards), Alex Malheiros (bass); key releases on Milestone and Far Out Recordings; signature track: “Jazz Carnival.”

One glowing review crowns Light as a Feather as Azymuth’s unmatched masterpiece, opening with the TV-famous Jazz Carnival. The write-up highlights their self-coined samba doido blend of jazz fusion, funk and Latin grooves. It notes heavy synth work, Brazilian percussion, and bass-driven rhythms, and points to follow-ups like Outubro. Overall sentiment is highly appreciative.