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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZAZYMUTHBrazilian jazz trio formed '72: Jos‚ Roberto Bertrami (aka 'Ze Roberto', b 21 Feb. '46, near S]ata[o Paulo), keyboards, writer, producer; Ivan Conti (b Ivan Miguel Conti Maranhao, aka Mamao, 16 Aug. '46, Rio), percussion; Alex Malheiros (b Jose Alexandre Malheiros, 19 Aug. '46, Rio), bass. Bertrami worked in S]ata[o Paulo nightclubs mid-'60s with singer Flora Purim, percussionist Airto playing 'progressive' bossa novas. To Rio '67, formed samba trio, played in popular nightclub Canecao; met Mamao playing in rock band the Youngsters; they found Malheiros playing in a bowling alley. Gigged and sessioned separately for five years (with Brazil's top musicians e.g. Milton Nascimento, Jorge Ben, Deodato; Bertrami in Elis Regina's band for two years) while working on style described as samba dioda (crazy samba): blend of Brazilian rhythms and jazz-funk infl. by Bill Evans, Gene Krupa, Scott La Faro. First Azymuth LP was film soundtrack O Fabuloso Fittipaldi '73, written by Bertrami; Limite Horizonte '74 and Agui Nao Come Mosca ('Eagles Don't Eat Flies') consolidated success. Appeared at Montreux Jazz Festival '77, toured South America; toured USA '78 with Purim and Airto; Bertrami arranged and played on Sara Vaughan LP I Love Brazil. Solo LPs incl. Malheiros's Atlantic Forest, Conti's The Human Factor (incl. Brazilian rhythms, electronic percussion, synthesizers), Bertrami's Blue Wave '84, Dreams Are Real '86 were all on Milestone, as were Azymuth LPs Light As A Feather, Outubro, Telecommunication '81 (incl. in first CD release from Fantasy group), Cascades '82, Rapid Transit '83, Flame (incl. Purim). Spectrum '85 incl. several famous Rio samba drummers, baiao rhythms of north-east Brazil, covers of songs by Marvin Gaye, Antonio Carlos Jobim, single 'Jazz Carnival' (hit in UK). Crazy Rhythm '87 incl. Joe Pass; Light As A Feather '90 was on Black Sun; Jazz Carnival on Beat Goes Public was a best- of. |