This is Hermeto Pascoal,
an albino, one of Brazil's most eccentric, prolific and treasured composers and
musicians, and a man once described by Miles Davis as "one of the most
important musicians on the planet". A virtuoso pianist, accordionist and flautist, Pascoal has long
preferred rather more unconventional ways of producing sounds and songs:
napkins, carpets, chairs, pints of beer, body parts, kitchen utensils,
animals even. A pig, famously, features on a 1977 album.
Pinning down Pascoal's musical style is equally complex. He rejects the terms jazz, Brazilian popular music (MPB), bossa nova, chorinho or forro, all of which are elements in his shows and recordings.
"It's not a fad. I don't like labels. But the only thing I can accept as
a label is musica universal. Brazil is the country with the greatest
number of peoples from around the world. So the world is Brazil. Brazil
has the whole world here. So why shouldn't we be home to the music of
the world?".
Pascoal made a rare appearance at the Barbican in London last November .He was joined on stage by two other heavyweights of Brazilian music, the harmonica player Gabriel Grossi and the mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda. Two of the most exciting young proponents of a new generation of Brazilian musicians, Pascoal calls them the "new gang".
Excerpts: Tom Phillips
Very interesting! To my mind, the best of Brazil is its music. It's unique and sublime! So is Hermeto Pascoal! Great article! keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks love! I totally agree with you!
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