DJANGADA - Afro-Brazilian Jazz - at Ladbroke Hall

The ensemble Djangada derives its name from the jangada, a traditional fishing vessel emblematic of northeastern Brazil, a region renowned as the cradle of foundational Afro-Brazilian rhythms. The trio engages in a process of musical reinterpretation, transforming canonical compositions by Bahian icons such as Dorival Caymmi and Gilberto Gil into intricate, rhythmically assertive instrumental arrangements.

While paying clear homage to these seminal figures, the group contemporizes the archetypal Bossa Nova piano trio format, a rather outdated sound that is associated with (and has barely moved past) the 60s, infusing it with funk-inspired vitality and modern improvisational intensity. Their output is characterized by a deliberate duality: meticulously structured arrangements are punctuated by potent, groove-oriented passages and ecstatic collective improvisation, reflecting both reverence and innovation.

Pianist Sam Watts and bassist Matheus Nova, having collaborated extensively within Europe’s Brazilian music scene as foundational members of ensembles led by artists such as Marcelo Andrade and Celeste Caramanna, established a robust musical partnership prior to forming the trio. Their integration of drummer Marcinho Pereira in 2020 catalysed the ensemble’s definitive emergence. The group’s cohesive dynamic has come about over years and years shared performing experience, creating a sophisticated dialogue between precision and spontaneity, the stylistic cornerstone of jazz. 

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