Jam Da Silva

Jam da Silva is a composer and percussionist born in Recife, the Northwest of Brazil, a city that is synonymous with the sound of Mangue Beat which exploded in the 90s. The roots of his sound reflect the musicality of his upbringing — city streets and the heavy influence of drums and percussion. Jam combines traditional sounds with inventiveness, sensibility and rhythm. He is a student of musical textures, always seeking new tones for his pandeiros, cuicas and berimbaus, the traditional Brazilian instruments which he combines with contemporary sounds from bustling city streets, layers of guitars and moody electronica. Jam has also collaborated and supported a number of international and Brazilian artists. He recently opened for Erykah Badu in Rio de Janeiro alongside Malian musician Toumani Diabaté. On home turf he has worked alongside classical Brazilian artists like Marisa Monte and wrote a song for Roberta Sa. The title track of his recent album – “Dia Santo” – caught the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson and was part of Peterson’s “All Winner Show 2009” showcasing the best new tunes of the year. In addition to this, Jam has composed tracks for various film soundtracks both in Brazil and abroad; most recently for L.A. short film “Too High to Hola.”