Zuco 103

Originally known as Rec.a, the Netherlands-based neo-tropicalismo group Zuco 103 was spawned from a collaboration that singer Lilian Vieira, keyboardist Stefan Schmid, and drummer Stefan Kruger worked on with the Dutch fusion ensemble SfeQ. The trio met at the Rotterdam Conservatory in 1989, where Brazilian-bred Vieira was studying singing and began blending the bossa nova and samba of her homeland with jazz, funk, and dance elements, all of which were showcased on the group's debut album, 2000's Outro Lado. The Other Side EP was also released that year. ~ Heather Phares