Christiano Galvão brings serious Brazilian groove to the drumset — the kind of feel where the time sits deep, the hands stay relaxed, and every pattern sounds musical instead of “exercise-like.” Based in Rio de Janeiro, he’s become a go-to drummer for major Brazilian artists, known for versatility, strong pocket, and the ability to move naturally between samba, baião, maracatu, frevo, pop, and jazz-influenced settings.
Since the early 1990s, Galvão has toured and recorded with a long list of well-known Brazilian performers, including Simone, Ivan Lins, Zélia Duncan, Jorge Vercillo, Marina Lima, Jorge Ben Jor, and Lenine. Alongside his work as a sideman, he has also released his own solo album 1+1 (2006), showing his identity as more than just a supporting player.
Education remains a big part of his legacy. Galvão authored the instructional books Creative Brazilian Drumming (Hal Leonard, 2010) and Brazilian Groove Play-Along (2017), both created to teach authentic Brazilian styles while encouraging creativity and real-world musical application. He’s also known as an active educator, presenting workshops and academic-level instruction in Brazil and internationally.
What he’s doing now: Galvão continues recording, teaching, and sharing performance/recording content online, staying visible through drum-cam clips, educational posts, and studio work.
Recordings / credits: In addition to his solo album 1+1, his discography includes extensive session and sideman credits across Brazilian popular music and instrumental projects, with credits documented across discography databases and streaming release listings.
Gear: Zildjian Cymbals; Vic Firth sticks.
Sources: Zildjian; Vic Firth; Discogs; Modern Drummer; Izzo Musical; Christiano Galvão Instagram; Christiano Galvão YouTube.
Update: 1/22/26
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