HMB Essentials

Héber Marques is as suave as Bruno Mars—and just as smooth toasting over an old-school R&B beat. Until HMB formed in 2007, the Lisbon singer was best known for gospel and jazz. Now he leads the hottest funk band in Portugal, a party-starting five-piece that anchors its sound in vigorous basslines and nimble keys. Some of these songs channel the new-school soul of Aloe Blacc and the Dap-Kings; others flash back to the club-oriented post-disco groove of groups like Cameo and D-Train. Marques sings in Portuguese, but his band's infectious rhythms speak a universal tongue.