album rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Portuguese rock / new wave / funk / ska / jazz-rock / reggae. Jafumega is the second and breakthrough album by Jafumega, the Porto-based sextet who were among the defining bands of the Portuguese rock boom of the early 1980s. The group originated in 1978 from musicians who had been active in the Porto jazz and rock scene, including members of the Barreiros family (guitarist Mário, vocalist/keyboardist Eugénio and bassist Pedro) with vocalist Luís Portugal, saxophonist/keyboardist José Nogueira and drummer Álvaro Marques. Their debut album, Estamos Aí (Metro-Som, 1980), was recorded in English; it was with the 1981 single 'Ribeira' — a reggae song whose chorus ('A ponte é uma passagem prà outra margem', 'The bridge is a passage to the other side') became one of the most recognised verses of the era — that the band achieved national visibility and signed with the multinational PolyGram. The 1982 self-titled PolyGram album contains 'Latin'América', 'Kasbah', 'Nó Cego' and 'Sei Que Pareço um Ladrão' (a musical setting of verses by the popular Algarve poet António Aleixo). Several of the album's lyrics were written by Carlos Tê — one of the most celebrated Portuguese lyricists of the past four decades, particularly known for his work with Rui Veloso — and José Soares Martins. The album is characterised by sophisticated production, intensive use of the most advanced studio technology, and a breadth of influences — from jazz-rock and funk to ska, reggae and pop — that reflected both the cosmopolitan world of Porto's music scene and the creative ferment of Portuguese rock in that decisive period. The production is credited to Mário Barreiros and José Nogueira.
Label: PolyGram (Portugal), 1982.
Producers: Mário Barreiros and José Nogueira.
Recording studio: Not individually specified in publicly available sources; recorded in Portugal.
Critical reception: Jafumega was both a critical and public success, confirming the band as one of the leading acts of the Portuguese rock boom and earning them the description 'idols of Porto'. Portugal Music describes the album's creation as marked by 'instrumental mastery, sophisticated production, intensive but discreet use of the most advanced technologies, and lyrics very important for the definition of the band's universe.' The RTP Memória Gramofone programme describes 'Ribeira' as having made 'a chorus that was on everyone's lips.' The album was well received by the audience and critics and in that year Jafumega performed at the Vilar de Mouros Festival, appearing before U2 in their live debut in Portugal.
Commercial success: Jafumega was a strong commercial success in Portugal and was the foundation of the band's reputation. The single 'Latin'América' / 'Nó Cego' was released alongside the album. A third album, Recados (PolyGram, 1983), followed before the group disbanded in 1984–85, having performed more than 300 concerts including the Festa do Avante before 100,000 people and shows in Paris. They have since been described as 'dignified representatives of good Portuguese music' and placed in the gallery of Portuguese classics.
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Genre: Between 1969 and 1977, the Barreiros brothers made up the youth band Mini Pop (Adding Info).
Recording studio: Angel Studio, Lisboa (Adding Info).