Zé Paulo Miranda

Zé Paulo Miranda grew up in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco, where he absorbed the folkloric traditions of samba and candomblé from an early age. His music draws directly from the ritualistic chants and rhythms of candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion, with songs like 'Oyá Mensã Orum - Mãe do Entardecer' and 'Agbayê' exploring themes tied to its deities and spirituality.

In the mid-1990s, he worked with producer Jorge Velloso, which led to his debut album 'Ao Vivo'. The album helped bring his music to a wider audience, though some critics have questioned his use of religious traditions in his work. Miranda has maintained that his approach is about building cultural bridges through music.

His recordings include titles like 'O Canto de Oyá' from 2005 and 'O Coração do Samba' from 2015. He performs with a band that includes percussionist Gésio Amadeu, guitarist Léo Mendes, bassist Ricardo Mota, and drummer Marquinho Santos.