Pontos de Seu Zé Pilintra

Pontos de Seu Zé Pilintra formed in 1995 around Bira do Ponto, a former street vendor and Umbanda priest. The band took its name from an Afro-Brazilian deity, and their early sound was built on samba, with touches of samba de roda, choro, and funk. They came up playing in Rio's Lapa district, which gave them their setting and much of their subject matter.

Their debut album arrived in 1998, titled 'Na Lapa Foi No Cabaré da Lapa' after the neighborhood's bohemian nightlife. The title track became a hit, and they followed it with albums like 'Samba em Lapa' in 2000, 'Ponto com Ponto' in 2003, and 'Boemia e Malandragem' in 2007. Bira do Ponto wrote lyrics that often dealt with love, social issues, and the loose, late-night life they knew.

The music stayed rooted in samba but kept room for other rhythms, and Bira's direct manner sometimes drew attention beyond the recordings. They built a following around a sound that felt specific to Lapa's streets and bars, less a fusion project than a neighborhood band that found a wider audience.