Ivan Miguel Conti Maranhão (16 August 1946[1] – 17 April 2023), also known as Mamão, was a Brazilian drummer, percussionist and composer.
Conti's career began with performances in bossa nova and rock bands, leading to a role as a session drummer for Odeon Records.
[5] While Conti was playing in the Youngsters, he met the keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami, who at the time was working with Robertinho Silva and Flora Purim, in a Rio club.
[1] Conti continued working as a session musician, performing with musicians such as Eumir Deodato, Milton Nascimento, Roberto Carlos, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, Raul Seixas, Jorge Ben, Paulinho da Viola, Erasmo Carlos and Chico Buarque.
In 1977, Azymuth gave a successful performance at Montreux Jazz Festival that led to a US tour the following year and a contract with Milestone Records in 1979.
[1][7] The album made use of electronic drums and synthesisers and was a combination of Brazilian music, popular jazz and funk similar to his work with Azymuth.
[8][9] In the early 2000s, Conti joined the reformed line-up of the 1960s samba-canção band Os Ipanemas along with his son Thiago.
[2][17] He said that his drumming influences included Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Joe Morello, Steve Gadd and Billy Cobham, as well as fellow Brazilians Milton Nascimento, Wilson das Neves, Robertinho Silva and Hélcio Milito.