Jinga Boogie

Brazil meets America. Samba meets Soul.

Jinga (normally spelled Ginga) is the distinctive swagger that is the essence of the Brazilian spirit.

Jinga Boogie formed when Brazilian-born keyboardist Jamba got together with American percussionist Tom Armstrong to perform some improvised sets in New York. Later, Jamba and Tom started writing and producing songs that organically combined their respective cultures.

It’s not something I necessarily sit down to do. I just hear the music that way, Tom explains. Spending time in Brazil, falling in love with the food, the people, the samba – it is natural for it to effect the way I hear and play music.

For me, it is about more than just the music. It’s about the hang, as well. Says Jamba, When Tom and I get together to write something we get some food, some guarana. We don’t get too serious. We start writing and bang! It starts happening, and that is very satisfying. We want that to come out in the music… the humor, joy, and soul… the ginga.

Tom and Jamba both recognized early on how much they compliment each other’s styles.

Jamba is a master of melody, chord structures, and horn arrangements. He is always hearing the music. It never ceases. Aside from his profoundly soulful voice and talents on the piano, he is also a fantastic bass player — able to dig into a deep funk groove one moment, and practically dance over a light samba the next.

An expert on Brazilian percussion, Tom brings a fierce sense of rhythm to the mix. For Tom, everything is a percussion instrument — including the human voice. He is the lyricist for the group, as well, writing with a poetic urgency and honesty that is strongly inspired by Caetano Veloso and the music of Stevie Wonder.