Azymuth

Azymuth is a Brazilian jazz-funk instrumental trio formed in 1973 in Rio de Janeiro. Keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami, bassist Alex Malheiros, and drummer Ivan Conti—all born in 1946—founded the group. The three had worked together as session musicians since the late 1960s in a project called Projeto III. In 1973, they took the name Azymuth from a composition on the film soundtrack “O Fabuloso Fittipaldi,” organized by composer Marcos Valle. This collaboration established their foundational approach: blending American jazz influences with Brazilian rhythms and released their music on Philips Records.

Azymuth’s commercial breakthrough came with their self-titled debut album “Azimüth” in 1975 on Som Livre. The album sold 200,000 copies domestically and established their signature “samba doido” sound. Bertrami led the group into electronic experimentation, acquiring the latest synthesizer technology from New York. He fused electronic keyboards with funk grooves, samba rhythms, and jazz harmonies in compositions that Brazilian record labels initially rejected. Conti’s rhythmic inventiveness complemented Bertrami’s vision, creating sounds ahead of their era. The track “Linha do Horizonte” became particularly successful, selling over 500,000 copies after appearing on Brazilian television.

During the late 1970s and 1980s, Azymuth achieved international prominence. Their 1979 album “Light as a Feather” on Milestone Records featured “Jazz Carnival,” a disco-inflected funk composition that sold over 500,000 copies internationally and reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1980. Malheiros and Conti collaborated with Bertrami on subsequent releases including “Outubro” (1980), “Telecommunication” (1982), and “Cascades” (1982). The trio performed at the Monterey and Montreux Jazz Festivals and worked with musicians including Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, and George Duke. By 1983, all three members had launched solo careers while maintaining the band’s output and touring schedule.

Internal tensions and label challenges led to a split in 1987, with the band remaining inactive through the early 1990s. Azymuth reunited in 1995 after English producer Joe Davis discovered them during session work for the “Friends From Rio” project. The mid-1990s acid jazz movement and electronic producers including MF Doom and Flying Lotus had begun sampling their 1970s recordings, introducing Azymuth to new audiences. Their 1996 album “Jazz Carnival” on Far Out Recordings marked their return and sparked a second career phase. José Roberto Bertrami died on July 8, 2012, at age 66, and the surviving members recruited keyboardist Kiko Continentino in 2015.

Alex Malheiros and Ivan Conti released the album “Fênix” in 2016 with Continentino, demonstrating the trio’s creative resilience. Conti died on April 17, 2023, and was replaced by drummer Renato Calmon. The group’s electronic-infused Brazilian sound influenced acid jazz, nu-bossa movements, and hip-hop production through widespread sampling. In 2020, they collaborated with producer Adrian Younge on “Jazz Is Dead 4,” while their 2025 album “Marca Passo” continued their legacy of innovation. Azymuth remains Brazil’s most prolific jazz ensemble, with over 199 recorded releases and a reputation for constant creative evolution.