Gabriel Aquino [BR]

Gabriel Aquino is a Brazilian musician who started as a percussionist and vocalist with the band Timbalada in the early 2000s. He went solo around 2007, forming the group Gabriel Aquino [BR]. The band includes musicians like percussionist Paulinho Camafeu, bassist André Neiva, drummer Junior Timbó, and guitarist Danilo Andrade.

His song 'Entrada Triunfal' came to him while visiting the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey, where he imagined a triumphant procession. That track, along with 'O Eterno Pensa Em Mim,' are among his most recognized works. He's released albums like 'Entrada Triunfal' in 2009, 'Axé Bahia' in 2012, and 'Tempo de Festa' in 2015.

Aquino's music draws from the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of samba and axé common in his hometown of Salvador, Bahia. While some traditionalists criticized his approach early on, his sound found an audience at events like weddings and parties where 'Entrada Triunfal' became something of a celebration staple.