Hermeto Pascoal in Seattle

[varwoche]

Hermeto Pascoal, arguably one of the greatest musical geniuses in a generation, if not all time, is making a rare visit to the USA and performing in Seattle on Nov 2.

And what a dilemna. Given my anxiety about the upcoming election, it's hard to envision being in a receptive mood for music that particular evening. But what the hell.

Here's a Hermeto thread. (I think the mp3 links are broken though.) Hermeto's music is too eclectic to describe, though it can be safely said that it is of Brazil. He is a multi-instrumental virtuoso (almost every instrument under the sun and then some) and a composer extraordinaire.

This is part of earshot jazz festival. Also appearing is the amazing Gonzalo Rubalcaba (not the same concert as Hermeto).

 

[El Greco]

Dang, one of my favorite Brazilians! I've seen him in a monumental concert in Athens, some 10 years ago! For those into magical, strange sounds, I recommend "Lagoa Da Canoa..." and "Brazil Universo"!

 

[varwoche]

Dang, one of my favorite Brazilians! I've seen him in a monumental concert in Athens, some 10 years ago! For those into magical, strange sounds, I recommend "Lagoa Da Canoa..." and "Brazil Universo"!

Ditto. Brazil Universo is my favorite.

Mestre Radamés on the Lagoa disk is one of the most hauntingly beautiful, powerful pieces of music I've ever heard, not to mention ridiculously complex.

 

[Quinn]

Lucky you. I got to see Hermeto once a few years ago, and it was one of the most amazing musical performances I've ever witnessed. Since the show is in Seattle, I assume Jovino Netto will be playing with him, which is a good thing.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[varwoche]

Hermeto plays numerous instruments, including pigs, squeeky toys, and various other objects. As a result, some who have never heard his music dismiss him as a novelty act.

Because Hermeto is currently touring the US, there are some current news articles about him. I just stumbled on this (not so current) quote from Miles Davis about Hermeto:

the most complete musician I've ever met

article

 

[varwoche]

Miles Davis used to call him "that crazy albino," but the composer and versatile instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal never took offense. Here at home he was already known as "the mad genius of Brazilian popular music" and "the sorcerer," so one more gruffly affectionate nickname could only burnish his reputation as an eccentric prodigy.

Describing Mr. Pascoal's music, on the other hand, has always proved a much harder task. Though Mr. Pascoal and his quintet are scheduled to perform in the Jazz at Lincoln Center series tonight and tomorrow, the start of a rare United States tour that will continue into next month, he admits that he would feel just as comfortable playing with a symphony orchestra or at a backwoods hillbilly dance.

"I'm 68 years old, and to this day, even I have never been able to define the type of music that I play," said Mr. Pascoal, who favors the piano but is conversant in a dazzling variety of instruments, in an interview before a performance here this month. "I'm a jazz musician when I play jazz. It's part, a strong part, of my music. But it's just one of the things I do, not the only thing."
...
I don't know if it's a fair comparison, but someone similar in American music might be Charles Ives. Hermeto is creative in the most fundamental and invigorating kind of way, with an expansive imagination like a child's, a hugeness about his sources of inspiration and a vibrant curiosity about sound, a feeling that anywhere we are, there are sounds going on that can become part of musical experiences.

article

 

[varwoche]

Lucky you. I got to see Hermeto once a few years ago, and it was one of the most amazing musical performances I've ever witnessed. Since the show is in Seattle, I assume Jovino Netto will be playing with him, which is a good thing.

Let us know how it goes!

Quinn, I hope you come back to this thread, because who else here can help me understand what I witnessed last night? Beauty so surreal and so intense, and musicianship so extraordinary, that it was borderline paranormal.

Hermeto is simply a force of nature. His joy of life and the child-like energy he exudes, musically and otherwise, is something to behold.

Yes, Jovino was called on stage to sit in. It was a beautiful moment, on more than one level. I can imagine having a tear in my eye even if I didn't know Jovino personally, and I hand it to him for keeping his composure as Hermeto said the things he said.

Hermeto defies comparison, and because the music is eclectic to an extreme I hesitate to overemphasize this one point: Though I have a (strong) preference for acoustic combos, they did the high-energy fusion whoop ass thing like nobody's business. Nastier than nasty, in the very best sense. Across the board, the band smoked like nothing I've ever heard.

There was a workshop earlier in the day. It was also extraordinary, and that I got to meet Hermeto was too cool for words.

This was one of the most profoundly joyous 2 hours of my life. That it was punctuated with the news of Bush's re-election causes me a sadness almost as profound. I may babble more about the concert if/when I recover.

 

[Quinn]

Well, I don't know if I can help you understand it except to offer the following obvious explanation: Hermeto is one bad, bad mofo.

Your experience sounds about like mine. I had never heard him before and had no idea what I was in for. What his band played twisted my musical world. It was one of only two times I've ever been literally brought to tears by the intense beauty of music.

I don't recall any forays into fusion when I saw him, but it doesn't surprise me; he was on a couple of the 70's Miles albums. I do remember a happy, simple Calypso tune that suddenly turned into a rip-your-face-off modal burnout that would have made Coltrane tremble. Plus the best solo piano version of "Round Midnight" I've ever heard. Oh, and did they do the bit where the band all gathers together and plays a piece by dropping plastic pipes of different lengths onto the stage, to produce different pitches?

When you talk to Jovino again, I'd be interested to hear if there are any Hermeto CDs he recommends. I've got a couple, but they don't come close to capturing what I heard live.

 

[varwoche]

What his band played twisted my musical world. It was one of only two times I've ever been literally brought to tears by the intense beauty of music.

Same here my friend.

Oh, and did they do the bit where the band all gathers together and plays a piece by dropping plastic pipes of different lengths onto the stage, to produce different pitches?

Yes!, but they have graduated to aluminum. The way the phrases ripple across the pipes/players was astonishing.

When you talk to Jovino again, I'd be interested to hear if there are any Hermeto CDs he recommends. I've got a couple, but they don't come close to capturing what I heard live.

Gladly. I have much of his work. If you tell me which CDs you have and which tracks appeal to you, I'll be glad to make recommendations too.

 

[varwoche]

Here's a little NPR Piece. Per usual, this focuses on Hermeto's unusual instruments, which is partially a shame because it overshadows his genius. There are a couple of brief sound clips mixed in.

 

[varwoche]

Beauty so surreal and so intense, and musicianship so extraordinary, that it was borderline paranormal.

Until yesterday I assumed that hero worship tainted my concert experience. And then I got the cd Mundo Verde Esperança, containing some of the material they performed.

This music is simply unreal.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Until yesterday I assumed that hero worship tainted my concert experience. And then I got the cd Mundo Verde Esperança, containing some of the material they performed.

This music is simply unreal.

Yeah, but he's no Kenny G!

 

[varwoche]

Until yesterday I assumed that hero worship tainted my concert experience. And then I got the cd Mundo Verde Esperança, containing some of the material they performed.

This music is simply unreal.

Ah, sound clips from this utterly profound CD. (Frustratingly short!) You have to precisely click the speaker icon thingies.