An instrumentalist from Bahia, Brazil, Gustavo Di Dalva started playing percussion when he just was seven years old, guided by his father and teacher, Tony Mola. He had great support from some of the most influential names in Bahian music including Carlinhos Brown, Vovô and Ivan Huol.

Gustavo Di Dalva’s musical knowledge covers a wide range and variety of rhythms. Brazil's northeastern rhythms including Baião, Samba, Bossa Nova and Afro Bahian were his influences. He used them as starting points for incorporating Reggae, Funk, Latin Rhythms, African Tribal Music and Bahian Rhythms into his current repertoire.

At age eleven, Gustavo played with Luiz Caldas (Axé Music’s pioneer) and Gerônimo. Later, he helped found the group, Vai Quem Vem, and recorded a CD with Sergio Mendes. He also helped establish the Timbalada band, Bragadá that played throughout Brazil, often accompanying Reflexu.

At age fifteen, he made his big debut alongside Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil for the Tropicalia 2 Concert. Gustavo has played and recorded with some of the biggest names in Brazilian popular music including Milton Nascimento, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia, Djavan, Marisa Monte, Daniela Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, Margareth Menezes, Luis Caldas, Dominguinhos, Lulu Santos, Netinho, among many others. He recorded on the following Grammy-winning albums: Sergio Mendes – O Brasileiro (1993), Gilberto Gil -Quanta Live (1999), Caetano Veloso- livro (2000), Gil e Milton - Gil e Milton (2001), Gilberto Gil -Eletra Acústico (2006), Gilberto Gil - Fé na Festa (2010), Ivete, Gil e Caetano - Ivete Special ( 2012)

Gustavo performed with Gilberto Gil for 16 years and performed internationally at many prestigious events such as Umbra Jazz Festival in Italy, Montreal Festival in Canada, ¡ Fiesta! (International Festival of Latin American Music and Culture) in Italy, the Summer Stage in New York City, Nice Jazz Festival in France, North Sea Jazz Festival among many others.

Today, besides being an percussionist, Gustavo is a singer, songwriter, producer and clinician. His music represents the grace and diversity of the drumbeat through his Bacia Sonora project.