Luciano Nakata Albuquerque, born in Brazil to Spanish/Japanese parents, early on earned the moniker Curumin, a term reserved by indigenous Brazilians for their more precocious children. It was the 1970s in Sao Paulo, and with his older brother Curumin began his journey through the world's music, from Jorge Ben to Devo to Bebeto. By the time he was 8, he'd already formed his first rock band with classmates, with pots and pans substituting for a proper drum kit. Within two years he'd formed another band, this time an instrumental funk group called ZU. By the time he was 14 he was already a percussionist at Sao Paulo's top clubs. By 16 he'd taught himself to play keyboards as well.

Later on in his teens, Curumin enrolled at the prestigious music school Gaviões da Fiel, where he was exposed to the 40 year history of MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), delving deeper into samba during the day, while learning outside school about the B-52s and Run DMC. Curumin and two friends quickly formed Zomba, a band devoted to Brazilian music and classic funk, replete with brass and percussion sections, but accompanied also by a DJ. Zomba were widely praised, spurring a resurgence of interest in the 70s sound in Sao Paulo. Clearly not one to be idle, this multi-tasker was also in a band called Toca with Gustavo Lenza, which would prove to be the blueprint for "Achados E Perdidos".

While his psychology degree and aspirations towards professional soccer languished, his musical career was growing ever brighter. Support gigs for established names in MPB ensued, such greats as composer Arnaldo Antunes, singers like Vanessa da Matta and CéU, as well as Brazilian hip-hop groups like Lino Crizz & Guetto Jam and SP Funk. It was with these groups that Curumin got his first taste of world touring, blowing away audiences across Latin America and Europe.

“One of the smarter young musicians in São Paulo, Curumin is a fully paid-up scholar of both Brazilian and American funk from the 70’s.”
Ben Ratcliff - The New York Times

Achados e Perdidos - 2005

In 2003 Curumin produced his first solo album - “Achados e Perdidos” - released in Brazil on YB Music.
In 2005 “Achados e Perdidos” was released in North America on Quannum Projects based in San Francisco.

Curumin brings us a confluence of cultures on his infectious debut album “Achados e Perdidos”. This record recalls 70’s samba funk at its best, channeling musical greats like Jorge Ben, Milton Nascimento and Tim Maia, but peppered with modern flourishes from jazz and funk to hip hop. You’ll hear egg shakers, Juno synths and scratching all in the same introduction, and later on an operatic chorus, an overwhelming orchestra, his raspy Portuguese croon conveying the urgency and passion of the music of Brazil.

The album’s 12 tracks flow in and out of one another amid chattering, clinking glasses, intricate programming, fuzzy guitar riffs, ukulele and shifting percussion. "Achados e Perdidos" kicks off with the uptempo "Guerreiro," stuttering and popping for nearly a minute before kicking into gear. Breathy vocals and a psych Hammond borrowed from 1971 creep up in "Samba Japa" next, followed immediately by the insistent burn of the first single "Tudo Bem Malandro." Curumin even tackles Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothing” with rousing confidence. This convergence of influences throughout "Achados e Perdidos" will resonate with all kinds of listeners, from world music aficionados to soccer moms to beat heads to Brazil nuts.

The song “Tudo Bem Malandro” was chosen by actress Natalie Portman to be part of a compilation made for the anti-poverty organization FINCA and by Remi Kolpa Kopoul on french Radio Nova “Brasil do Futuro” 2006 compilation. “Guerreiro” was featured in a Nike commercial aired during the FIFA World Cup 2006. Most recently, this same song appeared on a Miller Beer TV ad campaign. “Guerreiro” also appears representing Brazil in the soundtrack of the game FIFA Street II.

"Achados e Perdidos" is an account of the ethnic and cultural references from Curumin’s life in São Paulo.

Guerreiro

Tudo Bem Malandro

“On the tracks of his album, Curumin melds 70’s style jazz funk with electronic beats, creating an infectious and propulsive sound.”
The Wall Street Journal - November 5th, 2005

“Curumin has captured the heart and soul of São Paulo, Brazil.”
Daily News - November 2005

“São Paulo based Curumin proves himself a star student of Brazilian samba and American funk.”
Entertainment Weekly - October 2005

“Achados e Perdidos is a stunning blend of Brazilian folk, funk and electronic music (…) His cover of Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothing” is one of the few to do the soul legend justice.”
URB - October 2005

JapanPopShow - 2008

In 2007 Curumin starts the production of his second album entitled “JapanPop Show”, featuring guest appearances of artists like Blackalicious, Tommy Guerero, General Electric and Turbo Trio.

The album has been simultaneously released in Brazil on YB Music, in the US on Quannum Projects and on JVC / Victor Entertainment in Japan.

The album opens with the title track, which takes its name from an early-80s Brazilian variety program in the vein of The Ed Sullivan Show. This is dance music, from start to finish, and further carves out his inimitable style of Samba Soul, now sprinkled with more Afro-Beat, dub and experimental funk. The Tropicalia flair of “Esperança” evokes the breezy Brazilian pace, “Sambito”’s beat-driven energy is helped by Tommy Guerrero’s electric guitar. But it’s also affectionately personal: on the Os-Mutantes-meets-Manu-Chao “Magrela Fever” he sings about the joys of riding a bike, while the infectious “Compacto” is about his love of 45s.

Compacto

Magrela Fever

“This São Paulo singer and multi-instrumentalist combines traditional Brazilian music with modern electronic flourishes to create a sound that simultaneously digs into the past and looks to the future.”
Playboy Magazine - 10 To Watch in 2008 - March 2008

“This Brazilian multi-instrumentalist effortlessly sways and swivels through the sort of cut-and-paste Tropicalia pop funk that’d make Beck drool.”
Spin Magazine - May 2008

“The woozy, reggaefied title track has the brain-melting charm of a pot-addled jam. Elsewhere, dense funk collides happily with old-fashioned samba and bossa nova; “Kyoto” suggests Caetano Veloso fronting Funkadelic. If “Fumanchu”, a throwaway based on a simple electric piano riff, can provide such immense pleasure, there’s some sneaky magic in effect.”
Spin.com - May 2008

“JapanPopShow” is possibly the easiest way to tap in to Brazilian culture without actually going there. With elements of dub, afro funk, samba soul and hip-hop setting the mood, Curumin sounds like a Brazilian version of Jack Johnson. Add to that some bossa nova guitar and you’ve got music that speaks to the soul.”
Remix Magazine - May 2008

“Brazilian musician Curumin’s second album is hard to classify, but in the best way: funk, psychedelic rock, hip-hop, reggae, dub, and more all co-exist on this album, sometimes even within the same track. The mix is a smart one, and it makes sense, considering Brazil’s history as a melting-pot nation. There’s enough influence from Brazil’s musical past to keep traditionalists listening, but enough forward thinking to take the album into new territory. Hard to pigeonhole, but easy to enjoy.”
XLR8R 8/10 - May 2008