Brazilian Music - The Jazzier Side

Let's start with Hermeto Pascoal. Multinstrumentalist doesn't do him justice. Put him in the kitchen and he'll play your teakettle. Put him in your daughter's room and he'll make music from her dolls. Got some pvc pipe and cinderblocks? He's got a marimba of sorts.

He grew up albino in Brazil's Northeast, which meant that when his friends headed for the sun and the beach, he had to escape to the forest and the shade. The sounds of the forest continue to haunt his playing.

Of course he does play in somewhat larger venues, too:

A more straight ahead player - and a brilliant composer and arranger - is Moacir Santos

Carlos Malta, who used to be a member of Hermeto's band, in addition to playing with artists such as Gilberto Gil, also leads a band called Pife Muderno, playing instrumental popular in the Northeast of Brazil.

This clip is even better:

Finally, there is the late, lamented Sivuca. You've probably never an accordion played quite like this: Enjoy!