Rachel Hayter (flute) and Joseph Costi (piano) met playing Samba percussion with Rhythms of the City band, where they bonded over a shared interest in Latin American folk music and jazz. They started playing together working on duo material for flute and piano, and invited Leandro 'Lele' Mancini add some percussion into the mix. This became Balderama, named after a fantastic song in their repertoire by Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa. They also work with a bass player for larger functions.
Joseph Costi is a pianist from Venezuela who studied Jazz at Middlesex University. As a performer on the jazz scene, Joseph is in high demand. He performs regularly with acclaimed bands Bahla (jazz inspired by Jewish Ladino tradition) and Caravela (afro-Brazilian jazz), and writes many of his own compositions.
Leandro Mancini is a drummer and percussionist from Chile. He is trained in jazz, but plays a wide range of styles- including the vast array of rhythms found in Latin America. He recently toured with the Sudanese singer Amira Kheir.
Rachel Hayter is a flute player from London who, after spending many years in Latin America, fell in love with Latin American music. She plays jazz, folk and world music on the flute, and plays with many bands such as Alvorada (Brazilian Choro) and Vocal Global (world music). She did an MA at the Guildhall School of Music after studying Spanish, Portuguese & Music at Birmingham University.