Amy Duncan, a native-born New Yorker living in Rio de Janeiro and co-founder of Manhattan Samba, is a jazz pianist, composer and arranger, and leader of the band Brass Tacks.

Her first exposure to Brazilian music came in New York in the late 1980s through playing in local samba groups.

Years later, when Manhattan Samba was already well-established Amy relocated to Rio de Janeiro. There she played in the baterias of several samba schools including União da Ilha. For many years she particpated in the famous Carnival parade (Sambódromo).