" Alluring and sensuous, with just a hint of saudade, and cheekily titled to be a ‘word that’s on everyone’s lips
- Mojo
A Sonic Journey Across the Atlantic
Ayom are musical seafarers, journeying across the Black Atlantic from Brazil to Angola and Cape Verde, their sound imbued with a distinctly Mediterranean identity. Their music is a vibrant fusion of Brazilian, Tropical, Afro-Latin, and Afro-Lusitanian rhythms, played with an irresistible swing that feels like tropical sun breaking through grey clouds. Rooted in the cosmopolitan energies of Lisbon and Barcelona—cities that many of the band’s members now call home—Ayom’s sound transcends boundaries, dissolving barriers of language and origin to form an emotional connection that transforms audiences into communities.
The project began in Barcelona, when Brazilian vocalist and percussionist Jabu Morales met Italian accordionist and arranger Alberto Becucci and Greek-Italian percussionist Timoteo Grignani. Together, they began composing music that blended Brazilian rhythms with influences from around the world. Their first album was recorded in a week at an old Portuguese house in the countryside—a fitting birthplace for music that embodies both tradition and innovation.
The name Ayom refers to the “Lord of Music” in Afro-Brazilian mythology (Candomblé), a divine presence in the tambor who taught humans to play music and sing. True to this inspiration, Ayom weaves century-old traditions with the rhythmical language of Lusophone cultures, offering a hot-stepping and spiritual voyage through the African diaspora. Their music flourishes as nomadic, profound, provocative, and deeply joyful, where tradition and innovation, male and female, poetry and energy coexist in perfect harmony.
This harmony is reflected in the diversity of Ayom’s members: Jabu Morales, whose extraordinary voice and mastery of Brazilian rhythms form the band’s heart; Alberto Becucci, whose accordion brings Mediterranean poetry to their sound; Timoteo Grignani, a passionate researcher of Latin American rhythms; Ricardo Quinteira, an Angolan guitarist blending African grooves with Flamenco flair; Walter Martins, an Angolan musician and DJ with a deep love for global rhythms; and Francesco Valente, a bassist specializing in Brazilian and Afro music.
At the core of Ayom’s artistry is their acclaimed album, SA.LI.VA., released on September 13, 2024, and produced by the Latin Grammy-winning Kastrup (known for his work with Elza Soares). The album is a trilogy, its title an acronym for SA-grado (sacredness), LI-berdade (freedom and love), and VA-lentia (courage). Blending Afro-Lusitanian and Afro-Latin rhythms with modern, synthetic textures, SA.LI.VA. is both a bold evolution and a celebration of Ayom’s poetic soul.
Sung in Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian, SA.LI.VA. embraces traditional rhythms like semba, funaná, frevo, maracatu, and kizomba while introducing innovative sonic dimensions. It has been praised for transcending origin, gender, race, and ideology, building bridges between tradition and contemporary expression.
Through their music, Ayom has created more than just a band—they’ve built a movement. Their performances, whether intimate or grand, are a celebration of humanity’s shared pulse and a testament to the power of music to unite us all. With SA.LI.VA., Ayom continues to transform every stage they step on into a space of connection, emotion, and shared humanity.
LINEUP:
Group Size: 4-6 Artists (1 crew)
Jabu Morales: Voice / Percussion
Alberto Becucci : Accordeon
Timoteo Grignani: percussions
Walter Martins: Percussion
Ricardo Quinteira: guitar
Francesco Valente: Bass
STREAMING
Sa.Li.Va (2024)
Ayom (2020)
Press quotes
"A cliffside splash of accordion and strings that connects continents, not only makes space to remember and renew her love but also celebrates the home she (Jabu Morales) makes now
-NPR (US), 2024
Alluring and sensuous, with just a hint of saudade, and cheekily titled to be a ‘word that’s on everyone’s lips’
- Mojo
Among the hottest releases of Brazilian music.
- Rollingstone
Their Afro-Lusophone music is always fluid and inclusive, and they accentuate those traits on Sa.Li.Va
- Songlines
It’s a surprise a minute on this album. If this band sounds this good live, they’re going to positively slay in the post-pandemic touring circuit. Their trade winds sound is either the melding of influences or the uncovering of shared ancestors, but there’s more than enough visceral charm here to set aside “name the influence” and just enjoy a big, buoyant melody skipping between languages and over the rhythm.
Afropop Worldwide
Brazilian vocalist Jabu Morales sings cloudless salutations to the Orixas
and the band are spirited.
- The Wire
[4 Stars] Rich songs about spirituality, freedom and courage
- Financial Timese
Brazilian, Tropical, Afrolatin, and Afrolusitan
" Alluring and sensuous, with just a hint of saudade, and cheekily titled to be a ‘word that’s on everyone’s lips - Mojo
A Sonic Journey Across the Atlantic
Ayom are musical seafarers, journeying across the Black Atlantic from Brazil to Angola and Cape Verde, their sound imbued with a distinctly Mediterranean identity. Their music is a vibrant fusion of Brazilian, Tropical, Afro-Latin, and Afro-Lusitanian rhythms, played with an irresistible swing that feels like tropical sun breaking through grey clouds. Rooted in the cosmopolitan energies of Lisbon and Barcelona—cities that many of the band’s members now call home—Ayom’s sound transcends boundaries, dissolving barriers of language and origin to form an emotional connection that transforms audiences into communities.
The project began in Barcelona, when Brazilian vocalist and percussionist Jabu Morales met Italian accordionist and arranger Alberto Becucci and Greek-Italian percussionist Timoteo Grignani. Together, they began composing music that blended Brazilian rhythms with influences from around the world. Their first album was recorded in a week at an old Portuguese house in the countryside—a fitting birthplace for music that embodies both tradition and innovation.
The name Ayom refers to the “Lord of Music” in Afro-Brazilian mythology (Candomblé), a divine presence in the tambor who taught humans to play music and sing. True to this inspiration, Ayom weaves century-old traditions with the rhythmical language of Lusophone cultures, offering a hot-stepping and spiritual voyage through the African diaspora. Their music flourishes as nomadic, profound, provocative, and deeply joyful, where tradition and innovation, male and female, poetry and energy coexist in perfect harmony.
This harmony is reflected in the diversity of Ayom’s members: Jabu Morales, whose extraordinary voice and mastery of Brazilian rhythms form the band’s heart; Alberto Becucci, whose accordion brings Mediterranean poetry to their sound; Timoteo Grignani, a passionate researcher of Latin American rhythms; Ricardo Quinteira, an Angolan guitarist blending African grooves with Flamenco flair; Walter Martins, an Angolan musician and DJ with a deep love for global rhythms; and Francesco Valente, a bassist specializing in Brazilian and Afro music.
At the core of Ayom’s artistry is their acclaimed album, SA.LI.VA., released on September 13, 2024, and produced by the Latin Grammy-winning Kastrup (known for his work with Elza Soares). The album is a trilogy, its title an acronym for SA-grado (sacredness), LI-berdade (freedom and love), and VA-lentia (courage). Blending Afro-Lusitanian and Afro-Latin rhythms with modern, synthetic textures, SA.LI.VA. is both a bold evolution and a celebration of Ayom’s poetic soul.
Sung in Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian, SA.LI.VA. embraces traditional rhythms like semba, funaná, frevo, maracatu, and kizomba while introducing innovative sonic dimensions. It has been praised for transcending origin, gender, race, and ideology, building bridges between tradition and contemporary expression.
Through their music, Ayom has created more than just a band—they’ve built a movement. Their performances, whether intimate or grand, are a celebration of humanity’s shared pulse and a testament to the power of music to unite us all. With SA.LI.VA., Ayom continues to transform every stage they step on into a space of connection, emotion, and shared humanity.
LINEUP:
Group Size: 4-6 Artists (1 crew)