The bands, like Brazilian samba groups or New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians, are nonprofessional musicians in self-made local organizations that work toward carnival each year.

"This samba group is playing, and people just dance on the pier," Ms. Davidson said.

Besides the themed floats and cars, the Carnival festivities include "samba" groups, bands, dances and plenty of music and liveliness.

Along with the drums, bells and shakers of Brazilian samba groups, Ile-Aiye featured a djembe, the Y-shaped West African hand drum.

During the 1960s, some samba groups appeared and were formed by previous experiences with the world of samba and songs recorded by great names of Brazilian music.

It comprised about 150 musicians, most of them from Austria and Germany, including a samba group from Munich.

On a trip to Brazil in the spring of 2000, he found himself jamming with some of the players from Olodum, the famous samba group from Salvador da Bahia.

He studied guitar at the Conservatory of Rio and he started performing with his own sextet and local samba groups while he was still a student.

Its members include choirs, orchestras, music promoters, jazz and wind bands, community festivals, and samba groups, among others.

In the early stages of his career, Nascimento played in two samba groups: Evolussamba and Sambacana.