Grupo Falso Baiano is a San Francisco-based quartet bringing the joy of Brazilian choro music to audiences in California and beyond. Choro is one of Brazil’s earliest popular musics, originating in the 1870s, and remains a vibrant, evolving style today.

The group honors choro’s 150-year legacy, bringing their varied musical backgrounds and creativity to this timeless tradition. Their performances span classic tunes to jazz-influenced pieces, showcasing the genre’s rich diversity.

With 20 years together, Grupo Falso Baiano has graced top jazz and world music stages on the west coast, including SF Jazz, Yoshi’s Oakland, Yoshi’s San Francisco, The Freight and Salvage, the California Jazz Conservatory, San Jose Jazz Festival, Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and L.A.C.M.A. They’ve worked with renowned Brazilian and jazz artists like Anat Cohen, Ana Carbatti, Jovino Santos Neto, Moyseis Marques, Rogerio Souza, and Alessandro Penezzi.

Beyond performing and touring, Grupo Falso Baiano educates students around California about choro and Brazilian music in partnership with Pasadena Pops, Young Audiences of Northern CA, and Youth in Arts. They have twice been awarded recording grants by the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music (2010 & 2013).

Grupo Falso Baiano is Ami Molinelli (percussion), Brian Moran (7-string guitar), Jesse Appelman (mandolin), and Zack Pitt-Smith (reeds).