The members of Brazilian ska-reggae-rock group Jammil e Uma Noites (Tuca Fernandes, Manno Góes, and Beto Espínola) originally came together in 1994 as a casual cover band, drawing their repertoire from artists such as Bob Marley, UB40, and Jorge Ben. The band played in beachfront bars, mixing American rock influences with the music of the Caribbean islands and the African-inspired rhythms of their native Brazil. The Bahia-based band soon joined other groups like Banda Beijo, Rapazolla, Banda Eva, and others at the front edge of the axé movement, a popular mix of Brazilian/Caribbean styles like samba, reggae, maracatu, and axé soul. First noted in the '80s, axé was in full swing by the late '90s with a rapidly growing national fan base. By 1997 Jammil e Uma Noites had captured the attention of the local recording industry, and were offered a deal by EMI for the release of their debut record, Tanta Coisa Mudau. Jammil released another record with EMI entitled Contato (1998) before switching labels to Abril Music. The band would release roughly a record per year, using increasingly obscure and independently run record companies, and 2006's Luau was released without any label support. The band continues to tour nationally, maintaining a die-hard grassroots fan base. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez