HERMETO PASCOAL & GRUPO

Hermeto Pascoal (keyboards, accordion, teapot, bass flute, body percussion, water cup…), Itiberê Zwarg (electric bass, percussion), André Marques (piano, flute, percussion), Jota P. (sax, flutes), Fábio Pascoal (percussion, director), Ajurinã Zwarg (drums, percussion)

Hermeto Pascoal is a noted Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist. His music runs from the lyrical and romantic to raucous, from folkloric to his futuristic angular melodies, often creating a dense barrage of sound. His sextet, which has been with him for more than 40 years, uses conventional instruments such as flutes, saxophones, keyboards, basses, synthesizers…  but also many others that are invented, sucha as hubcaps, teapots, stone bowls, water cups…

A self-taught musician, Hermeto Pascoal ascended from his humble upcountry origins to an international acknowledgment. Developing his ears from an early age at his grandfather’s blacksmith shop, Pascoal used to pick up pieces of iron and hit them, trying to create music. This led to an unusual approach to music, where the tones themselves give a stronger conducting motif than chord connections or scales. He understands music as a vital force, emanating organically from everything in Earth.

A true maestro and cultural icon, Pascoal is exceptional as a multi-instrumentalist and also as a composer. Miles Davis, who included Hermeto’s compositions in his albums, described him as “the most impressive musician in the world”. There is good reason (beyond his appearance) why he is known as “O Bruxo” (the Wizard).