Zuco 103

Zuco 103 is a Dutch band that performs Brazilian music mixed with various aspects of other types of world music, dance music and electronica. The Brazilian singer Lilian Viveira, Germany keyboardist Stefan Schmid and drummer Stefan Kruger originally met when all three were students at the Rotterdam Conservatory in 1989.They had their paths overlap several times during the next nine years, including when they came together in the group Rec.a. After a collaboration with the Dutch fusion group SfeQ, Zuco 103 was formed in 1999. Its mixture of Brazilian, Cuban and African music, along with jazz and funk, resulted in the band’s first recording being a steady seller. Since 1999, Zuco 103 has recorded six CDs (Whaa! is its most recent release) with two of its most popular numbers, “It’s a Woman’s World” and “After Mangueira,” also being released as singles. In 2000, Zuco 103 toured Europe and visited the U.S., playing at Summerstage in Central Park. In 2003 they were successful during shows in Japan, Brazil, Spain and Italy. The band has since remained very popular in the Netherlands and has traveled to quite a few countries. In addition to its three original members, the current sextet also features bassist Lesly Kuhr, percussionist Claus Tofft and Sjam Sjamspedin on turntables.