The group was created in 1964, in , Brazil. They played in the opening show of João Sebastião Bar, one of the foremost Bossa Nova nightclubs in the city, where they became the favourite attraction. In this same nightclub, the group met the American dancer , a future collaborator. The Sambalanço Trio offered a fusion of  and , which became a cornerstone of Brazilian popular music of the period.

In the same year the band was formed, it released two albums: the first was named Sambalanço Trio; the second, Samblues. In 1965, they joined musician  and recorded À vontade mesmo. Still in 1965, the group recorded its fourth album, .

In 1965, Sambalanço Trio with Lennie Dale collaborated in a theatrical presentation performed in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo for eight months. This work was recorded later and released asLennie Dale & Sambalanço Trio no Zum Zum, earning awards by Jornal do Brasil as Best Album and Best Show.

Sambalanço Trio went their separate ways in 1965. Immediately after,  founded the  with  and later moved to the  with his wife and singer, starting a successful solo career.  became a member of  and an arranger for singers  and .  continued playing in other samba-jazz bands.

Sambalanço Trio's members also played together in other bands. Moreira and Clayber played in  around 1965.