Zagatti

Zagatti came out of Salvador, Bahia in the 1980s, part of the wave that got called axé music. Their 1986 debut album 'Circulou' had the single 'Olha Lá, É Ela,' which caught on fast and became a dance hit across Brazil. The band was led by vocalist Luiz Caldas, with other members including Xangai on keyboards, Cid on drums, and Rege on bass.

They followed up with albums like 'Festa No Interior' in 1987 and 'Axé Music' in 1988. Their sound pulled from various rhythms, including some Zambian and Congolese influences hinted at in their name, and later incorporated bits of funk and reggae. Other songs in their catalog include 'Esquina Com a Joaquina,' 'Tributo Ao Amor,' and 'Estranha Vontade.'

Caldas left the group in 1995, but Zagatti kept recording and performing with changing lineups. The axé scene they helped popularize sometimes faced criticism for being too commercial, but the band's early records, especially that first breakout, remain a clear part of how that sound spread.