1936

Known as "the sorcerer" or "the magician", Hermeto is regarded by a great many musicians as one huge genius still in activity in the world of music. Multi-talented for instruments, Pascoal became notable for his skills to extract good music from almost any object, from kettles and plastic toys to people’s speaking abilities. He was born in Arapiraca, countryside of Alagoas (Northeast Brazil) and, as a child, learned to play the flute and the accordion. At 11, he was performing at parties and fairs with his brother. In 1950, the family moved to Recife (capital of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil), where he kept performing with his brother, this time on the radio. By the end of the decade, he headed to Rio de Janeiro, playing in bands and, again, on radio shows. He later moved to São Paulo, joining Airto Moreira to form the "Sambrasa Trio". In the late 60s, Pascoal started to make a reputation as a pianist and flautist for Quarteto Novo, who released their first and only record in 1967. That LP features Hermeto’s first-ever recorded composition, "O Ovo". The group Quarteto Novo came up with a proposal for music renovation, mixing legitimate northeastern rhythmic patterns like baião with contemporary, jazzy harmonies. In the early 70s, invited by Airto Moreira, he visited the United States, recording with Miles Davis for Moreira’s album. Back in Brazil, he made a hit LP, "A Música Livre de Hermeto Pascoal", including his own compositions and versions of Brazilian classics like "Asa Branca" (Luiz Gonzaga) and "Carinhoso" (Pixinguinha). Hermeto also performed at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, in Switzerland. Having written 3 symphonies, he builds his own instruments and releases albums through different labels. Pascoal frequently tours the US and Europe, where he enjoys high rates of popularity, especially among musicians.