Hermeto Pascoal
Encyclopedia
Hermeto Pascoal is a Brazil
ian composer
and multi-instrumentalist
. He was born in Lagoa da Canoa, Alagoas, Brazil
. Pascoal is a greatly beloved musical figure in the history of Brazilian music
, known for his abilities at orchestration
and improvisation
, as well as being a record producer
and contributor to many other Brazilian and international albums.
Hermeto's career began in 1964 with appearances on several Brazilian recordings alongside relatively unknown groups. These now-classic albums and the musicians involved (Edu Lobo
, Elis Regina
, Cesar Camargo Mariano
) established widely influential new directions in post-bossa Brazilian jazz.
In 1966, he played in the Sambrasa Trio
, with Airto Moreira and Humberto Clayber; they released only one album, Em Som Maior
. Then he joined Trio Novo (Airto Moreira
, Heraldo do Monte
, Theo de Barros
) and in 1966 the group, renamed Quarteto Novo, released an album that launched the careers of Pascoal and Moreira. Pascoal would then go on to join the multi-faceted group Brazilian Octopus.
's 1971 album Live-Evil, which featured Pascoal on several pieces (which he also composed). Davis has said that Pascoal was "the most impressive musician in the world". Later collaborations involved fellow Brazilian musicians Airto Moreira
and Flora Purim
. From the late 1970s onward he mostly led his own groups, playing at many prestigious venues, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival
in 1979. Other members of the group have included bassist Itibere Zwarg, pianist Jovino Santos-Neto
and percussionists Nene, Pernambuco and Zabele
.
Known as o Bruxo (the Sorcerer), Hermeto often makes music with unconventional objects such as teapots, children's toys, and animals, as well as keyboards, button accordion, melodica
, saxophone, guitar, flute, voice, various brass and folkloric instruments. Perhaps because he grew up in the countryside, he uses nature as a basis for his compositions, as in his Música da Lagoa, in which the musicians burble water and play flutes while immersed in a lagoon: a Brazilian television broadcast from 1999 showed him soloing at one point by singing into a cup with his mouth partially submerged in water. Folk music from rural Brazil is another important influence in his work.
Between 1996 and 1997, Hermeto surprised the musical world with a book project, Calendário do Som, which contains a song for every day of the year, including 29 February, so that everyone would have a song for his or her birthday.
He and his wife Aline Morena currently live in her hometown, Curitiba
, Paraná
, Brazil
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
. He was born in Lagoa da Canoa, Alagoas, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Pascoal is a greatly beloved musical figure in the history of Brazilian music
Music of Brazil
The music of Brazil encompasses various regional music styles influenced by African, European and Amerindian forms. After 500 years of history, Brazilian music developed some unique and original styles such as samba, zouk-lambada, lambada, choro, bossa nova, frevo, maracatu, MPB, sertanejo,...
, known for his abilities at orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
and improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
, as well as being a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and contributor to many other Brazilian and international albums.
Early life and career
Pascoal comes from a remote corner of northeastern Brazil, an area that lacked electricity at the time he was born. He learned the accordion from his father and practiced for hours indoors as, being albino, he was incapable of working in the fields with the rest of his family.Hermeto's career began in 1964 with appearances on several Brazilian recordings alongside relatively unknown groups. These now-classic albums and the musicians involved (Edu Lobo
Edu Lobo
Eduardo de Góes "Edu" Lobo is a Brazilian bossa nova singer, guitarist, and composer. He achieved fame in the 1960s as part of the bossa nova movement...
, Elis Regina
Elis Regina
Elis Regina Carvalho Costa, known simply as Elis Regina was an important singer of Brazilian popular music. She became nationally renowned in 1965, after singing Arrastão in the first edition of TV Excelsior festival song contest, and soon joined O Fino da Bossa, a television program on TV Record...
, Cesar Camargo Mariano
Cesar Camargo Mariano
Cesar Camargo Mariano is a Brazilian pianist, arranger, composer and music producer. He is one of the most renowned instrumental artists to come out of his home country.-Biography:...
) established widely influential new directions in post-bossa Brazilian jazz.
In 1966, he played in the Sambrasa Trio
Sambrasa Trio
Sambrasa Trio is a Brazilian samba and jazz group, formed by Hermeto Pascoal , Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira . The band started to play in 1965, but it did not last long...
, with Airto Moreira and Humberto Clayber; they released only one album, Em Som Maior
Em Som Maior
Em som maior is the only album recorded by Sambrasa Trio, a Brazilian group formed by Hermeto Pascoal, Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira. It was released on an LP in 1965 and presents a fusion of various musical rhythms, including samba and jazz...
. Then he joined Trio Novo (Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
, Heraldo do Monte
Heraldo do Monte
Heraldo do Monte is a Brazilian guitar player. Since the 1980s he has released and participated with albums by Brazilian artists.In 1966 Quarteto Novo , released one album and launched the careers of its members.He has played on albums by Gilberto Gil, Hermeto Pascoal and others His first...
, Theo de Barros
Théo de Barros
Teófilo Augusto de Barros Neto known as Theo de Barros is a Brazilian composer. Since the 1960s he has released and participated with albums by Brazilian artists....
) and in 1966 the group, renamed Quarteto Novo, released an album that launched the careers of Pascoal and Moreira. Pascoal would then go on to join the multi-faceted group Brazilian Octopus.
International fame
He initially caught the international public's attention with an appearance on Miles DavisMiles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
's 1971 album Live-Evil, which featured Pascoal on several pieces (which he also composed). Davis has said that Pascoal was "the most impressive musician in the world". Later collaborations involved fellow Brazilian musicians Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
and Flora Purim
Flora Purim
Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Chick Corea's landmark album Return to Forever...
. From the late 1970s onward he mostly led his own groups, playing at many prestigious venues, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
in 1979. Other members of the group have included bassist Itibere Zwarg, pianist Jovino Santos-Neto
Jovino Santos-Neto
Jovino Santos-Neto is a Brazilian American jazz pianist, flutist, composer, arranger, educator and producer....
and percussionists Nene, Pernambuco and Zabele
Zabelê
Zabelê is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil.-References:...
.
Known as o Bruxo (the Sorcerer), Hermeto often makes music with unconventional objects such as teapots, children's toys, and animals, as well as keyboards, button accordion, melodica
Melodica
The melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
, saxophone, guitar, flute, voice, various brass and folkloric instruments. Perhaps because he grew up in the countryside, he uses nature as a basis for his compositions, as in his Música da Lagoa, in which the musicians burble water and play flutes while immersed in a lagoon: a Brazilian television broadcast from 1999 showed him soloing at one point by singing into a cup with his mouth partially submerged in water. Folk music from rural Brazil is another important influence in his work.
Between 1996 and 1997, Hermeto surprised the musical world with a book project, Calendário do Som, which contains a song for every day of the year, including 29 February, so that everyone would have a song for his or her birthday.
He and his wife Aline Morena currently live in her hometown, Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
, Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
As leader or member
- 1961: Conjunto Som 4 (with Conjunto Som 4)
- 1966: Em Som MaiorEm Som MaiorEm som maior is the only album recorded by Sambrasa Trio, a Brazilian group formed by Hermeto Pascoal, Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira. It was released on an LP in 1965 and presents a fusion of various musical rhythms, including samba and jazz...
(with Sambrasa TrioSambrasa TrioSambrasa Trio is a Brazilian samba and jazz group, formed by Hermeto Pascoal , Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira . The band started to play in 1965, but it did not last long...
) - 1967: Quarteto Novo (with Quarteto Novo)
- 1969: Brazilian Octopus (with Brazilian Octopus)
- 1970: Hermeto Pascoal (solo debut, reissued on CD as Brazilian Adventure)
- 1973: A música livre de Hermeto Pascoal
- 1977: Slaves MassSlaves MassSlaves Mass is a 1976 album by Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal. Recorded for Warner Bros. Records, the album featured some of the most beloved Brazilian musicians of the time.-Tracklisting:...
- 1979: Zabumbê-bum-á
- 1979: Ao vivo Montreux Jazz Festival
- 1979: Nova história da Música Popular Brasileira (compilation)
- 1980: Cérebro magnético
- 1982: Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo (reissued by Westwind Germany on CD as The Legendary Improviser. The reissue appears to be a copy from vinyl.)
- 1984: Lagoa da Canoa, Município de Arapiraca
- 1986: Brasil Universo
- 1987: Só não toca quem não quer
- 1988: Hermeto solo: por diferentes caminhos
- 1992: Festa dos deuses
- 1993: Instrumental no CCBB (with Renato Borghetti)
- 1998: Música!: o melhor da música de Hermeto Pascoal (compilation)
- 1999: Eu e eles
- 2004: Mundo verde esperança
- 2006: Chimarrão com rapadura (with Aline Morena)
- 2010: Bodas de Latão (with Aline Morena)
As contributor
- 1956: Ritmos Alucinantes, by Clovis Pereira
- 1959: Batucando no Morro, by Pernambuco do Pandeiro e seu regional
- 1970: Natural Feelings, by Airto MoreiraAirto MoreiraAirto Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
- 1970: Electric ByrdElectric ByrdElectric Byrd is a jazz album released by Donald Byrd in 1970 .- Track listing :*"Estavanico" - 11:00*"Essence" - 10:30*"Xibaba" - 13:35*"The Dude" - 8:00...
, by Donald ByrdDonald ByrdDonaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a... - 1970: It Could Only Happen with YouIt Could Only Happen with YouIt Could Only Happen with You is the final album by American pianist and arranger Duke Pearson featuring performances recorded in 1970 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1974.-Reception:...
, by Duke PearsonDuke PearsonDuke Pearson was an American jazz pianist and composer. Allmusic notes him as being a "big part in shaping the Blue Note label's hard bop direction in the 1960s as a producer."-History:... - 1970: Live-Evil, by Miles DavisMiles DavisMiles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
- 1971: Cantiga de Longe, by Edu LoboEdu LoboEduardo de Góes "Edu" Lobo is a Brazilian bossa nova singer, guitarist, and composer. He achieved fame in the 1960s as part of the bossa nova movement...
- 1971: Seeds on the Ground, by Airto MoreiraAirto MoreiraAirto Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
- 1975: Di Melo, by Di Melo
- 1976: Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly, by Flora PurimFlora PurimFlora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Chick Corea's landmark album Return to Forever...
- 1976 Goldenwings, by OpaOPA-Government:* Office of the Pardon Attorney, an agency of the United States Department of Justice* Office of Price Administration, a United States government office set up by President Roosevelt to stabilize prices and rents after the outbreak of World War II...
- 1977: Orós, by Raimundo FagnerRaimundo FagnerRaimundo Fagner Cândido Lopes is a Brazilian singer, composer, musician, actor and music producer. He is commonly known by the stage name Fagner....
- 1978: Robertinho no passo, by Robertinho de RecifeRobertinho de RecifeRobertinho de Recife is a Brazilian guitarist, record producer, composer born in 1965, in the city of Recife, Brazil. His first contact with the guitar was at the age of 10. After he was run over by a car, he had to stay long periods of time at home and had to watch a lot of TV. In one of these TV...
- 1979: Sivuca, by SivucaSivucaSeverino Dias de Oliveirawas a Brazilian accordionist and guitarist.In addition to in his home state of Paraíba, in Recife, and in Rio de Janeiro,...
- 1979: Live in Montreux, by Elis ReginaElis ReginaElis Regina Carvalho Costa, known simply as Elis Regina was an important singer of Brazilian popular music. She became nationally renowned in 1965, after singing Arrastão in the first edition of TV Excelsior festival song contest, and soon joined O Fino da Bossa, a television program on TV Record...
- 1980: Stone Alliance, by Márcio MontarroyosMárcio MontarroyosMárcio Montarrotos was a Brazilian trumpet player.Starting his studies with classical piano, he later went to trumpet and jazz.In the 70's, he traveled to USA, to study at Berklee School of Music.1988 the Swiss TV invited Montarroyos to produce two one- Hour Concerts together with the german guitar...
- 1983: Cordas vivas, by Heraldo do MonteHeraldo do MonteHeraldo do Monte is a Brazilian guitar player. Since the 1980s he has released and participated with albums by Brazilian artists.In 1966 Quarteto Novo , released one album and launched the careers of its members.He has played on albums by Gilberto Gil, Hermeto Pascoal and others His first...
- 1984: Ponto do músicos, by Nenê
- 1986: Balãozinho, by Eduardo Gudin
- 1986: Cordas mágicas, by Heraldo do MonteHeraldo do MonteHeraldo do Monte is a Brazilian guitar player. Since the 1980s he has released and participated with albums by Brazilian artists.In 1966 Quarteto Novo , released one album and launched the careers of its members.He has played on albums by Gilberto Gil, Hermeto Pascoal and others His first...
- 1986: Pindorama, by Pau BrasilPau BrasilPau Brasil is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
- 1987: Flávio Pantoja, by Flavio Pantoja
- 1987: Dharana, by DharanaDharanaDhāraṇā is translated as "collection or concentration of the mind ", or "the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory", or "firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty"...
- 1996: Brasil Musical - Série Música Viva (with Pau Brasil)
- 1998: Maritmo, by Adriana CalcanhottoAdriana CalcanhottoAdriana Calcanhotto is a Brazilian singer/composer. Her melancholic songs are often categorized as belonging to the MPB genre...
(on track "Canção por Acaso") - 2000: Oferenda, by Aleuda
- 2000: Nação NordestinaNação Nordestina- Personnel :* Zé Ramalho - Arrangement on tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 viola on tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 lead vocals on all tracks except for 11, acoustic guitar on track 3, ponteios on track 11...
, by Zé RamalhoZé RamalhoZé Ramalho is a Brazilian composer and performer. Zé Ramalho has collaborated with various major Brazilian musicians, including Vanusa, Geraldo Azevedo and Alceu Valença to name a few...
(on track "Violando com Hermeto") - 2003: The Music of Hermeto Pascoal, by Mike Marshall and Jovino Santos Neto
- 2006: Roda Carioca, by Jovino Santos Neto