SambaDá is one of the hottest emerging groups on the West Coast music scene, with their mixture of hard hitting dance music and exceptional live show earning them main stage slots at most of the major California music festivals this year. In February, SambaDá headlined the 3 biggest carnival parties in California, in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. They were a featured band in the San Francisco Carnival held in May, and have played main stage slots at the Harmony Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Whole Earth Festival. Most recently they headlined the Salem World Beat Festival, where they wowed more than 6000 people.

In September 2006, SambaDá turned heads with the release of the album "Salve a Bahia", a celebration of the Afro-Brazilian roots and cross-cultural collaboration. After nearly a decade of mixing musical backgrounds and influences, a new sound had emerged that truly separated SambaDá from any other act in the world. With one foot firmly rooted in California, and another in the deep cultural traditions of Brazil, SambaDá serves up non-stop percussion driven dance music that leaves people dripping wet and calling for more.

A mix of samba, capoeira music, funk, reggae and hip hop, the album is the product of their collaboration with 3 time Grammy-nominated producer Greg Landau, who has worked with artists including Susana Baca, Patato Valdes, Maldita Vecindad and Buena Vista Social Club's Juan de Marcos Gonzalez. This new CD features vocalist, percussionist & dancer Dandha da Hora, a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and a long-time member and performer with Il� Aiy�. Salve a Bahia features original music by bandleader & capoeira mestre Papiba Godinho (also of Brazil) and a guest appearance by Ozomatli's Wil-Dog Abers.

While Brazilin natives Papiba Godinho and Dandha da Hora bring their profound knowledge and respect for the roots of afro-brazilian song and dance, the entire band has developed a type of samba-reggae-funk with a universal appeal. SambaDá musically unites the Americas, drawing from percussion based styles of South and Central America, and blends it with that good old funk and reggae back beat so familiar to crowds of North America.

SambaDa's tunes are playful, vital, and energetic: they make you dance and they make you sing, they are both intimate and exuberant. SambaDá delivers a polished show, whether acoustic on the beach, or at full volume on stage, which is guaranteed to inspire dancing feet and smiling faces.

Papiba Godinho

Born and raised in Brazilia, Brazil, Papiba landed in Santa Cruz in 1992. As well as teaching Capoeira and founding Raizes do Brasil Capoeira School, his musical talents and dedication to sharing Brazilian culture lead him to form SambaDá in 1997. Papiba is a gifted song writer and composes much of SambaDá’s original music. Papiba’s...

Dandha Da Hora

Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Dandha has been a member of Ile Aiye, one of Brazil’s most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was 6 years old. She brings the incredible spirit of Salvaldor and of Ile Aiye to SambaDá and we are lucky to have her! A master dancer as well as vocalist and percussionist, Dandha honors...

Anne Stafford

Anne Stafford was born and raised in Sonoma County, CA. Anne first started playing saxophone in her Jr. High School Jazz Band, inspired by her teacher, the late jazz trumpet player Frederick J. Coleman. She studied jazz and ethnomusicology at UCSC and Cabrillo College. In 1998, she joined SambaDá, where her jazz background merged happily with...

Kevin Dorn

Also born and raised in Southern CA, bassist Kevin “Pescador” Dorn is dedicated to the groove. Kevin’s love of music and passion for performing continually inspire SambaDá. In addition to the bass guitar, Kevin has been playing Brazilian percussion with Papiba for over 10 years and now teaches Brazilian drumming in Monterey,...

Gary Kehoe

Gary has been drumming at the forefront of world music in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area for decades and his experience and energy are a constant inspiration. Gary Kehoe was born and raised in Minnesota and while never forgetting his midwestern roots, made a home and an amazing musical career of 30+ years in Santa Cruz, CA.

Gary studied music with...

Will Kahn

Will was born and raised in the unusual Northern CA coastal town of Bolinas, which is maybe part of the reason he is such a unique person. Will Kahn combines natural talent with a dedication to studying and pursuing music which shows in his skillful, soulful drumming. Will’s love of funk and reggae merges naturally and magically with samba...

Marcel Menard

Percussionist Marcel Menard brings all the urban energy and inspiration of growing up in Los Angeles, CA to his music. Marcel studied music and art at the Los Angeles Co High School for Arts and continued to explore the world of percussion after moving to Santa Cruz in 1991. Marcel has spent many years dedicated to increasing his knowledge of Brazilian...  

+ Malima Kone