Trio Mocotó
Effortless Brazilian grooves where traditional samba meets soulful funk. Warm, rhythmic, and impossibly catchy music for sun-drenched afternoons and open-air parties.
Effortless Brazilian grooves where traditional samba meets soulful funk. Warm, rhythmic, and impossibly catchy music for sun-drenched afternoons and open-air parties.
Trio Mocotó is the sound of a perpetual Brazilian summer. It is music that feels physically impossible to listen to without moving some part of your body, whether it is a subtle toe-tap or a full-on dance floor shimmy. They occupy a unique space where the sophisticated polyrhythms of traditional samba are stripped down and injected with the gritty, infectious energy of American soul and funk. The result is a 'sambalanço' that feels both vintage and timelessly cool.
What truly sets them apart is their mastery of the 'pocket.' While many samba groups lean into orchestral density, Trio Mocotó keeps things lean and percussive. The interplay between the acoustic guitar's rhythmic snapping and the distinctive squeak of the cuíca creates a hypnotic, rolling momentum. Their vocals are often delivered in breezy, tight harmonies that feel conversational rather than performative, adding to the music's approachable, communal atmosphere.
If you are new to the group, their 1971 debut 'Muita Zorra!' is the essential starting point for that classic 70s gold, while their 2001 self-titled 'Samba Rock' proves that their groove only sharpened with age. It is the perfect soundtrack for any moment that requires a lift in spirit, a bit of warmth, or a rhythmic pulse that feels like a heartbeat.
Trio Mocotó is a Brazilian band, originally formed in 1968 in the Jogral nightclub in São Paulo, and reformed in 2000. The group was influential in forming the musical style that became known as samba rock or sambalanço. In 1969, they were backing Jorge Ben, being featured on seminal albums Fôrça Bruta, Negro É Lindo and A Tábua de Esmeralda. In 1971, they had a hit with the single "Coqueiro Verde" (written by Erasmo Carlos). Their return to the studios with Samba Rock in 2001 was followed by tours and live appearance in main music festivals in Europe and Japan, with renewed energy and public. The group received in 2001 the APCA (São Paulo Art Critics Association) award for Best Group, and in 2006 Nereu's album as solo artist "Samba Power" received again the APCA, this time with Best Album of the Year. In 2011, they collaborated with Mayra Andrade on the song "Berimbau" for the Red Hot Organization's most recent charitable album Red Hot + Rio 2. The album is a follow-up to the 1996 Red Hot + Rio. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues. Skowa died following a cardiac arrest on 13 June 2024, at the age of 68. Original founding member, vocalist and guitarist Fritz Escovão, died on 1 October 2024, at the age of 81.
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →
