Spok
Encyclopedia
Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque, better known as Spok, is a Brazilian musician who is one of the main frevo
composers in the state of Pernambuco. His big band, composed of 18 musicians is considered one of the most important frevo groups in the city of Recife
. It has performed in many countries of the world, spreading the frevo style of rhythm. Spok has played with many other Brazilian artists, such as Raimundo Fagner
, Alceu Valença
, Antonio Nóbrega
, Elba Ramalho
, Geraldo Azevedo
, Sivuca
, Naná Vasconcelos
and Rivotrill
.
Spok has been called the new frevo ambassador for his contributions to the development and spread of the frevo rhythm.
, Pernambuco, Brazil. However, he lived in Abreu e Lima for most of his childhood, and began his musical studies there in 1984. Two years later, in 1986, he moved to Recife, where he worked with the greatest conductors and composers of Pernambuco of the day, such as Maestro Ademir Araújo, Maestro Clóvis Pereira and Maestro Guedes Peixotos.
In Recife, Spok studied in Centro Profissionalizante de Criatividade Musical do Recife, with the most eminent music teachers of the city, becoming one of the most important saxophonists in Recife. In 1996, he founded his big band, which is currently known as Spok Frevo Orquestra. Over the course of his career, he has played with many well-known Brazilian musicians, such as Raimundo Fagner, Alceu Valença, Elba Ramalho and Antonio Nóbrega.
Since 2007, Spok has organized the closing show for the Recife Carnival, an event which usually involves a large number of musicians. In 2009, for example, his orchestra had 170 musicians. Well-known artists, such as Lenine
, Alceu Valença, Claudionor Germano, Lula Queiroga, Antonio Nóbrega, Moraes Moreira, Luis Melodia, Zé Renato
and Leo Gandelman
, also participated in his show.
around the world. Some years later, this group was named Orquestra de Frevo do Recife, becoming the SpokFrevo Orquestra in 2004.
In its initial years, the group played frevo songs as they were originally composed. However, bit by bit, the big band accepted some influences from jazz, emphasizing improvisations and introducing rhythmic innovations. This characteristic led to many negative reviews by traditional frevo musicians. However, it also helped make the Spok Frevo Orquestra famous in Recife and around the world.
In 2004, the big band recorded its first album, named Passo de anjo
. This album was positively reviewed by experts for reinterpreting old classics and presenting new songs. In 2008, the big band recorded a DVD of its show, which was also released as CD. This work was named Passo de anjo ao vivo and contains performances by Lenine, Elba Ramalho and Zé da Flauta.
Spok Frevo Orquestra has performed in many countries of the world, such as Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Austria, always spreading the music of Pernambuco.
Frevo
Frevo is a wide range of musical styles originating from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, all of which are traditionally associated with Brazilian Carnival. The word frevo is said to come from frever, a misspeaking of the Portuguese word ferver . It is said that the sound of the frevo will make...
composers in the state of Pernambuco. His big band, composed of 18 musicians is considered one of the most important frevo groups in the city of Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
. It has performed in many countries of the world, spreading the frevo style of rhythm. Spok has played with many other Brazilian artists, such as Raimundo Fagner
Raimundo Fagner
Raimundo Fagner Cândido Lopes is a Brazilian singer, composer, musician, actor and music producer. He is commonly known by the stage name Fagner....
, Alceu Valença
Alceu Valença
Alceu Valença is a Brazilian composer, writer, performer, actor, and poet.Alceu Valenca was born in countryside Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil...
, Antonio Nóbrega
Antonio Nóbrega
Antonio Nóbrega is a Brazilian singer, dancer and actor. Along his career, he composed many songs, wrote many theatrical plays, always trying to spread culture from Pernambuco. In fact, he is considered one of the main artist of that state.-Biography:Antonio Nóbrega was born in 1952, in Recife,...
, Elba Ramalho
Elba ramalho
Elba Ramalho, is a Brazilian songwriter, performer, poet and actress. She is sometimes called "The Queen of Forró"....
, Geraldo Azevedo
Geraldo Azevedo
Geraldo Azevedo is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. He is famous for his contributions to the Brazilian Popular Music scene, especially his partnerships with Alceu Valença and Zé Ramalho.- Discography :...
, Sivuca
Sivuca
Severino Dias de Oliveirawas a Brazilian accordionist and guitarist.In addition to in his home state of Paraíba, in Recife, and in Rio de Janeiro,...
, Naná Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos is a Brazilian Latin jazz percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, most notable for his works with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Egberto Gismonti, and Gato Barbieri....
and Rivotrill
Rivotrill
Rivotrill is a Brazilian instrumental group formed by Junior Crato , Rafa Duarte and Lucas dos Prazeres , which presents a fusion of Brazilian, Latin and African rhythms with progressive rock and jazz.-History:...
.
Spok has been called the new frevo ambassador for his contributions to the development and spread of the frevo rhythm.
Biography
Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque was born in IgarassuIgarassu
Igarassu is a city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It is situated on the north coast of the metropolitan region of Recife, approximately 32 km north of the city of Recife...
, Pernambuco, Brazil. However, he lived in Abreu e Lima for most of his childhood, and began his musical studies there in 1984. Two years later, in 1986, he moved to Recife, where he worked with the greatest conductors and composers of Pernambuco of the day, such as Maestro Ademir Araújo, Maestro Clóvis Pereira and Maestro Guedes Peixotos.
In Recife, Spok studied in Centro Profissionalizante de Criatividade Musical do Recife, with the most eminent music teachers of the city, becoming one of the most important saxophonists in Recife. In 1996, he founded his big band, which is currently known as Spok Frevo Orquestra. Over the course of his career, he has played with many well-known Brazilian musicians, such as Raimundo Fagner, Alceu Valença, Elba Ramalho and Antonio Nóbrega.
Since 2007, Spok has organized the closing show for the Recife Carnival, an event which usually involves a large number of musicians. In 2009, for example, his orchestra had 170 musicians. Well-known artists, such as Lenine
Lenine
Lenine may refer to:*Lenine , Brazilian singer-songwriter*Lenine, Crimea, a town in the Kerch Peninsula*Lenine Raion, one of the 25 regions of Crimea...
, Alceu Valença, Claudionor Germano, Lula Queiroga, Antonio Nóbrega, Moraes Moreira, Luis Melodia, Zé Renato
Zé Renato
Zé Renato is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist....
and Leo Gandelman
Léo Gandelman
Léonardo Gandelman is a Brazilian saxophonist, composer and producer. He has played with Lulu Santos, and guest appeared in Titãs' single "Televisão"...
, also participated in his show.
SpokFrevo Orquestra
In 1996, Maestro Spok founded Banda Pernambucana, which played with Antonio NóbregaAntonio Nóbrega
Antonio Nóbrega is a Brazilian singer, dancer and actor. Along his career, he composed many songs, wrote many theatrical plays, always trying to spread culture from Pernambuco. In fact, he is considered one of the main artist of that state.-Biography:Antonio Nóbrega was born in 1952, in Recife,...
around the world. Some years later, this group was named Orquestra de Frevo do Recife, becoming the SpokFrevo Orquestra in 2004.
In its initial years, the group played frevo songs as they were originally composed. However, bit by bit, the big band accepted some influences from jazz, emphasizing improvisations and introducing rhythmic innovations. This characteristic led to many negative reviews by traditional frevo musicians. However, it also helped make the Spok Frevo Orquestra famous in Recife and around the world.
In 2004, the big band recorded its first album, named Passo de anjo
Passo de anjo
Passo de anjo is the debut album of the Brazilian big band SpokFrevo Orquestra. Released in 2004, the album was positively criticized for its innovation of frevo, which presents some influences from jazz, emphacizing improvisations. The album was firstly released independently...
. This album was positively reviewed by experts for reinterpreting old classics and presenting new songs. In 2008, the big band recorded a DVD of its show, which was also released as CD. This work was named Passo de anjo ao vivo and contains performances by Lenine, Elba Ramalho and Zé da Flauta.
Spok Frevo Orquestra has performed in many countries of the world, such as Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Austria, always spreading the music of Pernambuco.