I recommended this group in a thread 20 years ago, and nobody else has talked about them here since (other than one very brief passing mention), so maybe this time the recommendation will stick! 
:D:
The group is called Zuco 103. They’re reasonably well known in jazz circles, since they’ve been recording and touring for 25 years, but they’re still a little under-the-radar. Also, “jazz” is far too reductive for what they do; they’ve got ethnic flavors (Brazil specifically) and some electronica mixed in. The trio met at college in Rotterdam — a German guy (keyboards), a Dutch guy (percussion), and a woman from Brazil (vocals) — and quickly bonded. Now, decades later, they’re still at it.
The neat thing about their music is that it’s pretty varied, and yet it’s all clearly identifiable as theirs, primarily because of the lead singer’s deliciously smooth style. Here’s a sampling of their range.
This is “Treasure” — pretty representative of their sound. Upbeat and jazzy, with some intricate rhythms.
Also representative: “Caminho De Casa.”
But they can also lean toward a more poppy jazz style. Here’s “Yara.”
Or they can give you an easy bossa nova feel. Here’s “Jussara.”
Or they can go super-upbeat with an electronic twist. Here’s “Brasil 2000.”
Or they can go wild with heavy electronica. Here’s “Cabo Electrico.”
And then enjoy the whiplash as they go for slow, sultry jazz. Here’s “Humana.”
And finally, just to show they’ve still got it, here’s a track from their latest album, released in 2023. This is “Postcard.”
I love this trio. I can’t recommend them highly enough. I hope y’all enjoy them.
