Zanzara formed in Salvador, Bahia in the early 1980s around vocalist and guitarist Jorge Mautner and percussionist Álvaro Assmar. Their music drew from Brazilian samba and jazz, with lyrics that often turned inward. The band's 1983 debut album established their sound, and they've continued recording, putting out 'Quintal do Céu' as recently as 2020.
Their best-known song is 'Assim' from 1986, a slow, reflective piece that became widely popular in Brazil. Other tracks like 'Baunilha Mix' and 'Outono' show the same moody, melodic approach. Mautner's singing gives the music its distinctive character.
Zanzara's lyrics sometimes drew criticism in their early years for being too direct. Their live shows have maintained a following over the decades.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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