The brainchild of Brazilian natives Alex Koberle and Emiliano Benevides, Bat Makumba is the crossroad between the traditional music of their equatorial homeland and the punk, rock and funk influences of the U.S. and Europe. Locals to San Francisco, Bat Makumba's show is a hip renegade carnaval party full of tropicalia tinged ska, punk influenced forro, and rock infused samba.

With the introduction of heavy hitting americano bassist Carl Remde in 2000 the core of Bat Makumba gelled, and the group has since garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base throughout the West Coast. Winners of a 2004 California Music Award for Outstanding Latin Alternative Album, Bat Makumba have been hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of Five Latin Bands to Watch, nominated for an SF Weekly Music Award as Best International Band, and their debut album was named one of the Best Records of 2003 by the East Bay Express.

Incorporating the varied influences of horn player David Gibbs, keyboardist Ben Tergis and drummer Dan Porras, Bat Makumba's live show brings together an international palette of musicians and instrumentation (including accordion, zabumba, megaphone, clarinet and alfaia). Named after the 70s classic Tropicalia song by Caetano Veloso + Gilberto Gil (popularized by Os Mutantes), "Bat Makumba" loosely translates to mean the mixing of Brazilian traditionalism with international pop culture.

Don't miss this kinetic, percussive music... join the renegade carnaval party that is Bat Makumba!



"[Bat Makumba's] growing number of diehard fans who pack the band's shows are evidence that this irresistible percussive music gets across to feet of all persuasion."
- The Beat Magazine (Nov/Dec, 2003)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The San Francisco-based Brazilian rock band Bat Makumba comes out of its cave with a potent self-titled debut album... With this album they are ready to drive Brazilian pop fans batty." (Jesse "Chuy" Varela)
- The Latin Beat Magazine (Oct, 2003)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A super-impressive set of Brazilian/latin dance funk tunes, written and recorded by a trio out of San Francisco, CA... Highly recommended..."
- Slipcue.com (Summer 2003)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Bat Makumba have been holding court at some seriously sweaty shows at local venues for some time, and now they've finally gotten into the studio to capture their take on Música Popular Brasileira (MPB). The band's debut release, Bat Makumba, serves as a sharp calling card."
- San Francisco Bay Guardian (8/20/02)




Bat Makumba are:
Alex Koberle on lead vocals and guitar
Carl Remde on bass, vocals and electronics
Emiliano Benevides on percussion and vocals

Other contributing musicians on the CD:
Vehla Guarda da Mangueira;
David Gibbs on saxophone, clarinet and flute;
Andy Korn, Joel Fadness, Broc Funke and Ben Leinbach on drums;
Ben Tergis on keyboard and accordion;
Annie Sajdera on keyboard;
Aurea Onorato and Raquel Ramos with backing vocals