Jammil

Formed in 1994 by Tuca Fernandes, Manno Góes, and Beto Espínola, the Brazilian ska-reggae-rock outfit Jammil e Uma Noites started out as an informal cover ensemble whose set lists drew from Bob Marley, UB40, and Jorge Ben. The Bahia-based trio performed in beachfront bars, blending American rock elements with rhythms from the Caribbean islands and the African-derived grooves native to Brazil. Soon the group stood alongside Banda Beijo, Rapazolla, Banda Eva, and similar acts at the leading edge of the axé movement, a style fusing Brazilian and Caribbean forms such as samba, reggae, maracatu, and axé soul. Although axé had first surfaced in the 1980s, it reached peak momentum in the late 1990s, attracting a swiftly expanding national audience. In 1997 the band drew interest from the regional record business and secured an EMI contract that yielded their debut album, Tanta Coisa Mudau. After issuing the follow-up Contato on the same label in 1998, Jammil e Uma Noites moved to Abril Music and thereafter issued roughly one album annually through progressively smaller, independently operated imprints; by 2006’s Luau they were operating without any label backing. The band still tours throughout Brazil, sustaining a devoted, community-driven audience.