Zarabatana formed in Salvador, Bahia in 1981. The band included vocalists Baby do Brasil and Lan Lanh, with Arnaldo Brandão and Armandinho Macedo on guitars, Ailton Passos on bass, and Luiz Brasil on drums. They released their self-titled debut album that same year.
Their 1991 song "Festa De Iemanjá" became their most recognized track, a celebration of the Afro-Brazilian sea goddess that blended samba, reggae, and funk elements. Another song from their catalog, "Tac," appears among their notable recordings.
Zarabatana put out albums steadily through the 1980s and 1990s, including Eterno, Festejo, and Todo Mundo Dança. They continued recording into the 2000s with releases like Axé Bahia and Eco. In their early years, some traditionalists criticized their fusion approach to Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
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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