Sirius B was formed by Joe And Azhar in the spring of '98 as a consequence of jazzers and sambistas joining forces with a common love of Brazilian music. A year later they were touring the continent with Sony Music D.J's Trip do Brasil and had released their 1st album Sem Fronteiras on 33 Records. the album was subsequently released by Impartment in Japan.
Things really took off with their explosive concert at London's Jazz Cafe for 'Brazilliance '99, hosted by D.J/percussionist Snowboy.They have since played in France, Switzerland, Spain, Costa Rica, Ireland, Norway and Brazil, one of the biggest live highlights was their appearance at last years Montreux Jazz Festival, it was a great experience topped by the jam session with some of the great sambistas from Brazil, Jair Rodrigues and his band. On air their music has travelled extensively,reaching the airwaves of Japan, the USA, Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, Australia , Sirius and who knows where else?.
3 more albums followed:Posto Nove, Ouro Batido and Bagunca
Bagunca came out in Japan on April 22nd 2004. It went in at number 1 in the HMV Brazilian chart and stayed there for 4 weeks, outside of Brazil the biggest market for Brazilian style music, Whichever way you look at it that's some achievement for a British band. The album includes a fantastic remix of the track Samba Selvagem by Sunaga. The good news over here is you can buy the 12" on vinyl released on Adrian Gibson's new label Freestyle records, but at present there is no release date for the complete album.
Keyboards: Joe(Ze)Joe learned guitar at an early age in his home town of Liverpool. After learning every Beatles song he then proceeded to learn every song by Tom Jobim, approx. 600 total! He studied composition at the RNCM and jazz in the school of life.
He was the house pianist at Manchester's Band on the Wall, playing alongside Martin France, Stan Tracy and Don Weller.
He went on to produce albums for major record labels, written film music, and played all over the World, before settling back in the U.K. to lend his formidable musicianship, composing, arranging and production skills to Sirius B.
Azhar Vocals Azhar has played music on every continent of the known world! She studied violin and voice at the RNCM, but gave up a career as a concert violinist to diversify into songwriting and singing after hearing Milton on 'Native Dancer' and Flora on 'Stories to tell', thus began her love affair with Brazilian music.
After several recording projects in London she moved to L.A. Playing live in all the clubs (in between cocktail waitressing in Mafia owned establishments) but just as she was about to sell her soul was whisked off back to England on Route 66. Then followed extensive tours of Europe which included television appearances alongside Rachid Taha and Jamiroquai. After relentless jam sessions on the continent with Brazilian musicians and serious expeditions to Brazil her mysterious affinity with it's music finally reached fruition and found a vessel in Sirius B.
Percussion: Felix Gibao.
Felix has recently returned from Brazil -his home for the last 12 years. He has played with the likes of Milton Nasciemento and Trio Mocoto and is still one of the judges of Carnaval in Sao Paulo.
Presently he's on a mission to teach the whole of Britian to samba by the next world cup and the one after that! So far he's on course with his many workshops up and down the country in full carnaval regalia.
Flutes: Gareth Lockrane
Rising Star of the British Jazz scene,Gareth has been setting Sirus B audiences alight,with his huge powerful sound. His band Grooveyard are recent winners of the highly coveted Best European Jazz Group Award in the 2003 Granada Jazz Festival (Spain).
He plays the whole family of flutes from the piccolo,to the rarely heard Bass Flute.
Bass: Greg Cordez.
Greg came to the U.K. from New Zealand where he was studying bass at The Christchurch Jazz Academy. His studies have included going out on the town with the man Ron Carter in New York-several drinks later he ended up in some seedy Harlem club that consequently got raided by the N.Y.P.D. He keeps the band in check and plays bass like a surdo.
Drums: Paul Downes
After training in swing and big bands Paul was one of the mainstay drumers at Dingwalls Camden during the Acid Jazz heyday, He was so in demand, he had to turn down the post of drummer with the recently signed Jamiroquoi.After touring extensively in Europe, he joined Sirius B and has earnt a reputation as one of the top Brazilian drummers in the country.