Jair Rocha
Jair Rocha is a versatile Bahian drummer, percussionist, vocalist, and songwriter from Salvador, known for his deep roots in reggae, Black music, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. His career spans influential collaborative projects like Manospreto and DNA Urbano, energetic work with Banda Terráquea blending North American blues with Bahian traditions, and intimate autoral endeavors such as Pra Flutuar and Pele d’Água. Additionally, he contributes to cultural research projects like Ekedy Sinha’s “Na Seiva da Voz,” which reimagines sacred Afro-Brazilian chants on major stages across Brazil.
A Drummer with Afro-Urban Roots
The career of Jair Rocha is defined by his fluid transition across diverse musical landscapes. From reggae to rock, funk to Brazilian popular music, and from his experiences in original artist bands to deep research into Afro-Brazilian rhythms, his drumming is characterized by a powerful rhythmic drive and a profound openness to different genres.
Within Banda Terráquea, this vast background takes on a new meaning: Jair helps anchor the bridge between Lon Bové’s blues and R&B and the sacred musical traditions of Bahia. In his solo work, on the other hand, he deepens his own unique voice—a creative space where drums, vocals, and original songwriting seamlessly converge.