João Teoria

João Teoria is a trumpeter, vocalist, and musician from Salvador, Brazil, with a career deeply rooted in reggae, ska, instrumental music, and Afro-Brazilian musical traditions. Throughout his journey, he has become a defining presence in the Bahian music scene, performing within big band ensembles, original artist projects, and studio sessions.

His history is profoundly intertwined with Bahian reggae. In the late 1980s, João joined Grupo Remanescentes, a foundational band in the development of roots reggae in Bahia. The group brought together musicians who helped establish a distinct local voice for the genre, weaving its Jamaican roots together with Bahian cultural reality.

Ska represents another cornerstone of his career. João is the founder and leader of Os Skanibais, an orchestra that fuses Jamaican ska with reggae, samba, forró, jazz, rock, and other elements of Brazilian music. The group’s core mission is to deliver this fusion with a genuinely Bahian accent, while also exploring references from the Recôncavo region’s traditional samba de roda.

As a trumpeter, João was also a member of the Orkestra Rumpilezz, created by the late maestro and composer Letieres Leite. This experience placed him at the heart of one of the most sophisticated movements in Bahian instrumental music, built upon the combination of jazz, orchestral arrangements, and African-rooted rhythms.

His artistry extends far beyond instrumental work. João is also a vocalist and a versatile session musician, constantly participating in diverse projects and collaborations. Over the years, he has shared the stage with artists and groups from various genres, demonstrating a seamless ability to cross over between reggae, Brazilian music, rap, ska, and instrumental sounds. 

In 2026, João remains in full creative motion. He recently performed in a special concert alongside the band IFÁ and North American vocalist Alissa Sanders—a presentation that bridged Jamaican music with samba-reggae, further solidifying his role at the intersection of diverse Black musical traditions.