www.sambada.com

Founded in 1997 in Santa Cruz by Brazil native Papiba Godinho, SambaDá has quickly become a favorite on the club circuit with hard-driving percussion, high-energy performances, and danceable grooves. With a powerful blend of African rhythms, salsa, funk, hip-hop, and rock, SambaDá has performed at festivals and venues up and down the coast, including San Francisco Carnival, Harmony Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Whole Earth Festival, and the Salem World Beat Festival.

Along with Godhino, the group includes Brazilian vocalist and dancer Dandha da Hora, drummer Gary Kehoe, saxophonist Anne Stafford, bassist Kevin “Pescador” Dorn, percussionist Marcel Menard, and percussionist Will Kahn.

In September 2006, SambaDá released their album Salve a Bahia with Grammy-nominated producer Greg Landau, who has worked with artists like Susana Baca and Buena Vista Social Club’s Juan de Marcos Gonzalez.