b. Jairzinho Rodrigues Mello Oliveira, 17 March 1975, São Paulo, Brazil. Born into a musical family, Oliveira’s father is Jair Rodrigues and Luciana Mello is his sister. As a child Oliveira performed on television, appearing on Balão Mágico, and also playing with the spin-off group Turma Do Balão Mágico, which had a hit record. Later, he went to Berklee College Of Music, graduating in 1998 after studying Music Production And Engineering and Music Business. He is noted as a leading participant in Projeto Artistas Reunidos, a group of artists eager to explore the musical possibilities in blending traditional samba and bossa nova with soul music and latter-day developments in pop. Apart from Oliveira and his sister, this group includes João Marcello Bôscoli, Daniel Carlomagno, Max De Castro, Pedro Mariano and Wilson Simoninha. Oliveira’s own recording career on the Trama label has pursued similar goals, with his third release (2003’s 3.1) a particular highlight.