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MUSICIANS

EGBERTO GISMONTI

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Discography

Egberto Gismonti was born in 1947 in Carmo, Brazil. He began his formal music studies at the age of six on piano. After studying classical music for 15 years, he went to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger (orchestration and analysis), and composer Jean Barraqué, a disciple of Schönberg and Webern. Returning to Brazil, Gismonti began to glimpse a reality broader than the classical world of music. He was attracted by Ravel's ideas of orchestration and chord voicings, as well as by "choro", a Brazilian instrumental popular music where varied kinds of guitars are featured. To play this music he made the transition from piano to guitar, beginning on the 6-string classical instrument and switching to the 8-string guitar in 1973. He spent two years experimenting with different tunings and searching for new sounds, which is also reflected in his use of flutes, kalimbas, sho, voice, bells, etc. By the early '70s, he had laid the groundwork for his current conception was listening to musicians as wide-ranging as Django Reinhardt and Jimi Hendrix... For him, Hendrix's achievements were proof that "popular" and "serious" idioms need not remain opposite poles: "There's no difference between the two kinds of music...". Gismonti's first ECM record Dance Das Cabecas (ECM 1089), and a duet set featuring percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, dating from 1977, was nominated Album Of The Year by Stereo Review and received the "Großer Deutscher Schallplattenpreis". Sol Do Meio Dia (ECM 1116) found the duo augmented by saxophonist Jan Garbarek, percussionist Collin Walcott and guitarist Ralph Towner; the session following on a tour featuring Gismonti, the Belonging Quartet and Oregon. Gismonti dedicated this album to the Xingu Indians of the Amazon, with whom he had lived for a period of time in the jungle. On his following 1979 ECM recording "Solo" (ECM 1136), he plays 8-string guitar, piano and bells, expressing a pure and comprehensive view of his music. Tha next album to present Gismonti was a trio recording entitled Magico (ECM 1151) with bassist Charlie Haden and saxophonist Jan Garbarek, recorded in 1979. The same year, the trio toured Europe, including a concert at the Berlin Jazz Festival, and recorded a second Magico album, entitled Folksongs (ECM 1170). In 1981, Gismonti again toured with Haden and Garbarek, performing throughout Europe. The album Sanfona (ECM 1203/04), is related to the Brazilian roots of his music. It features both group and solo work within the context of a single release. On the first record of his two-disc set, Gismonti is joined by his Brazilian group Academia De Danças: Mauro Senise (saxophone and flutes), Zeca Assumpçao (bass) and Nene (drums and percussion). On the solo disc, the emphasis is more decidedly on his guitar playing and on Indian organ improvisation. In his liner notes for Sanfona, Geraldo Carneiro characterizes Gismonti's offeirng as "a trip through Brazilian rhythms, musical forms and popular festivals... symbolizing Brazilian culture in all its breadth from solemn to burlesque". Duas Vozes (ECM 1279) with Nana Vasconcelos appeared in 1984. Today Gismonti strives to bring two influences together, Western Europe music and the music from Brazil. Dança Dos Escravos (ECM 1387), released in 1989, takes him a step further in the direction where the distinction between "serious" and "popular" music doesn't play any role. His melodic lines have a special, cantible uniqueness. In harmonic terms, Gismonti has found a way of combining two cultures, such as one might also find in the music of Villa-Lobos, Baden Powell or Joao Gilberto. His rhythms, also extremely fragile and carefully constructed, never suffer from a lack of pulsating energy. Biography courtesy of Saudades Tourneen. EGBERTO GISMONTI's DISCOGRAPHY Albums Albums as a producer and/or arranger Productions and performances as musician in Carmo/LPs released in Brazil Productions and performances in Carmo/ECM CDs released outside of Brazil Music for Ballet Movie Scores Music for special TV series - Music for theatre (Brazil) Music for expositions of painters & sculptors Written music for diferent ensembles Previous 94' releases and works Albums: Egberto Gismonti - 1969 - Brazil Sonho 70 - 1970 - Brazil Janela De Ouro - 1970 - France Computador - 1970 - France Orfeo Novo - 1971 - Germany Água & Vinho - 1972 - Brazil Egberto Gismonti - 1973 - Brazil Academia De Danças - 1974 - Brazil Coraçoes Futuristas - 1976 - Brazil Dança Das Cabeças - 1976 - Germany Carmo - 1977 - Brazil Sol Do Meio Dia - 1978 - Germany No Caipira - 1978 - Brazil Solo - 1979 - Germany E. Gismonti & N. Vasconcelos & M. Smetak - 1979 - Brazil Magico - with Charlie Haden and Jan Garbarek - 1980 - Germany Circense - 1980 - Brazil Folk Songs - with Charlie Haden and Jan Garbarek - 1981 - Germany Em Famiglia - 1981 - Brazil Sanfonia - 1980 - Germany Fantasia - 1982 - Brazil Guitar From ECM - 1982 - France Sonhos De Castro Alves - 1982 - Brazil Cidade Coraçao - 1983 - Brazil Egberto Gismondi & Hermeto Paschoal - 1983 - Brazil Works - 1984 - Germany Egberto Gismonti - 1984 - Brazil Duaz Vozes - 1985 - Germany Trem Caipira - 1985 - Brazil Alma - 1986 - Brazil Feixe De Luz - 1988 - Brazil Pagador De Promessas - 1988 - Brazil Dança Dos Escravos - 1989 - Germany Kuarup - 1989 - film music score - Brazil Duo Gismonti/Vasconcelos - 1989 - live recording - East Germany Infância - 1990 - West Germany Poetic Anthology of Joao Cabral De Mello E Neto - 1979 - Brazil Poetic Anthology of Ferreira Gullar - 1979 - Brazil Poetic Anthology of Jorge Amado - 1980 - Brazil Children’s Music - A Viagem Do Vaporzinho Tereré- with Dulce Bressante - 1980 - Brazil Children’s Music - O Pais Das Aguas Luminosas - 1980 - Brazil Children’s Music - O Girigivel Tereré- with Francis Hime - 1980 - Brazil Amazônia - 1991 - film music score - Brazil El Viaje - 1992 - film music score - France Casa Das Andorinhas - 1992 - Brazil Musica De Sobrevivéncia - 1993 - Germany Egberto Gismonti - 1993 - Live at the 87 Festival in Freiburg Proscenium - CDV - Germany Egberto Gismonti - 1993 - Live at 93 São Paulo -Tom Brazil - Brazil Albums as producer and/or arranger: Dulce - O Samba Do Escritor - 1968 - Brazil Maysa - 1969 - Brazil Agostinho Dos Santos - 1969 - Brazil Marie Laforet - 1970 - France Johnny Alf - Nos - 1973 - Brazil Airto Moreira - Identity - 1975 - USA A Barca Do Sol - 1975 - Brazil Flora Purim - Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly - 1975 - Brazil Paul Horn - Altura Do Sol (High Sun) - 1976 - USA Wanderléa - Vamos Que Eu Ja Vou - 1977 - Brazil Marlui Miranda - Olho D’Agua - 1979 - Brazil Nana Vasconcelos - Saudades - 1979 - Germany A Cor Do Som - Intuição - 1984 - Brazil Bernard Wystraete - Intromission - 1985 - France Production and/or Performances as musician in Carmo/LPs released in Brazil: Andre Geraissati - Entre Duas Palavras - 1983 Nando Carneiro - Violão - 1983 Luiz Eça - Luiz Eça - 1984 Robertinho Silva - Bateria - 1984 Piry Reis - Caminho Do Interior - 1984 Aleuda - Oferenda - 1984 Antonio José - Un Mito Uma Coruja Branca - 1984 Carioca - Sete Dias, Sete Instrumentos, Musica - 1984 Grupo Papavento - Aurora Dorica Para O Embaixador De Jupiter - 1984 Artistas Carmenses - Carmo Ano 1 - 1985 Luigi Irlandini - Azul E Areira - 1985 Mu - Meu Continente Encontrado - 1985 William Senna - O Homen Do Madeiro - 1985 Nando Carneiro - Mantra Brasil - 1986 Luiz Eça, Robertinho Silva and Luiz Alves - Triângulo - 1986 Marco Bosco - Fragmentos Da Casa - 1986 Piry Reis - Rio Zero Grau - 1986 Fernando Falçao - Barracas Barrocas - 1987 Production and/or Performance in Carmo/ECM CD’s released outside of Brazil: Arvore - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra - 1991 Circense - Egberto Gismonti , group and Orchestra - 1991 Violão - Nando Carneiro - 1991 Kuarup - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra - 1991 Academia De Danças - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra -1992 Trem Caipira - Egberto Gismonti group - 1992 Nó Caipira - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra - 1992 Amazonia - Egberto Gismonti group - 1992 7 Dias, 7 instrumentos, musica - Carioca - 1992 Music for Ballet: Maracatu / Choreography of Décio Otero with Ballet Stagium - 1974 - Brazil Coraçoes Futuristas / Choreography of Vitor Navarro with Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Municipal De São Paulo - 1976 - Brazil Conforme A Altura Do Sol, Conforme A Altura Da Lua / Choreography of Décio Otero with Ballett Stagium - 1978 - Brazil Dança Das Cabeças / Choreography of Décio Otero with Ballet Stagium - 1978 - Brazil Construçao / Choreography of Klaus e Angel Vianna - 1978 - Brazil Sonhos De Castro Alves / Choreography of Antonio Carlos Cardoso with the Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Castro Alves - Salvador - 1982 - Brazil Variaçoes / Choreography of Graziela Figuerca with Grupo Coringa - 1984 - Brazil Pantanal / Choreography of Décio Otero with the Ballet Stagium - 1986 - Brazil Variações Sobre Villa Lobos / Choreography of Décio Otero with the Ballet Stagium - 1987 - Brazil Maracatu / Choreography and performance of Ballet Babinka - 1986 - Uruguay Jogo De Buzios / Choreography of Antonio Carlos Cardoso with the Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Castro Alves - 1988 - Brazil Natura / Choreography of Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians - 1988 - Live music performance in USA Sonhos De Castro Alves 2 / Choreography of Victor Navarro with the Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Castro Alves - 1988 - Brazil Inconfidentes / Choreography of various choreographs with the Corpo De Baile De Teatro Palacio Das Artes - 1988 - Brazil Iemanja / Choreography of Joe Alegado with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1990 - live music performance at Philharmonic of Köln - Germany Danças Solitarias / Choreography of Jochen Ulrich with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1990 - performance at Philharmonic of Köln - Germany 7 Anéis / Choreography of Jochen Ulrich with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1990 - performance at Philharmonic of Köln - Germany Carmen / Choreography of Jochen Ulrich with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1993 - performance at Köln, Ludwigsburg and Ludwigshafen - Germany Movie Scores: A Penultima Donzela / Directed by Fernando Amaral - 1969 - Brazil Em Famiglia / Directed by Paulo Porto - 1971 - Brazil Confissões do Frei Abóbora / Directed by Braz Chediak -1972 - Brazil Janaina / Directed by Olivier Perroy - 1973 - Brazil Terra do Guaraná / documentary - 1974 - Brazil Quem tem Medo do Lobisomem / Directed by Reginaldo Farias - 1973 - Brazil Nem os Bruxps Eacapam / Dorected by Valdir Ercolani - 1974 - Brazil Polichinelo / Directed by Jean Pierre Albicoco - 1975 - Brazil Raoni / Directed by Jean Pierre Dutilleux - 1976 - France Parada 88 / Directed by José by Anchieta - 1977 - Brazil Cruising / Directed by William Frietkin - 1979 - USA Ato by Violência / Directed by Eduardo Escorel - 1980 - Brazil Pra Frente Brasil / Directed by Roberto Farias - 1981 - Brazil Euridyce / Dir. by Mauro Alice / Documentary - 1983 - Brazil Avaeté / Directed by Zelito Vienna - 1985 - Brazil La Bela Palomera / Directed by Rui Guerra - 1987 - Brazil Kuarup / Directed by Rui Guerra - 1988 - Brazil Amazonia / Directed by Monti Aguirre - 1990 - USA El Viaje / Directed by Fernando Solanas - 1991 - Argentina Music for Special TV series: As Nadadoras / (Art Video) Tv Manchete of Mariza Alvares Lima - 1986 - Brazil ? - Diadorim / (Art Video) of José de Anchieta - 1987 - Brazil Pantanal / (Documentary) TV Manchete of Washington Novaes - 1986 - Brazil O Pagador De Promessas / (Mini-serie of 15 episodes) TV Globo of Dias Gomes, dir. Tizuca Yamasaki - 1988 - Brazil Um Grito Pela Vida / Conservation International Production - Haroldo e Flavia Castro - 1991 - USA Amazonia Parte II / (serie of 120 episodes) TV Manchete of T. Yamsaki and Regina Braga , dir. Tizuca Yamasaki - 1992 - Brazil Kuarup / (Mini-serie of 5 episodes) TV Manchete of Rui Guerra - 1992 - Brazil Music for Theater (Brazil): Maria Minhoca / by Maria Clara Machado - 1969 Encontro No Bar / by Braulio Pedroso / dir. by Celso Nunes with Camila Amado and Zanoni Perrite - 1973 Seria Comico Se Nao Fosse Serio / by Durrenmat / dir. by Celso Nunes with Fernanda Montenegro, Mauro Mendoça and Fernando Torres - 1974 Festa de Sabado / by Braulio Pedroso & Geraldo Carneiro, dir. de Daniel Filbo and Antonio Pedro with Camila Amado and Antonio Pedro - 1976 O Pequeno Principe / by Saint Exupery with Carlos Vereza and Susane Carvalho - 1978 Dor De Amor / by Braulio Pedroso dir. by Paulo Cesar Pereio with Paulo Cesar Pereio and Scarlet Moon - 1976 Bandeira Dos Cinco Milreis / by Geraldo Carneiro, dir. by Aderbal Jr. with Maria Padiha and Marco Nanini - 1985 Passageiro Da Estrela / Dir. by Sergio Fonta, with Lidia Brondi - 1984 O Homen Sobre o Parapeito Da Ponte / by Guy Poissy with Carlos Vereza and Clemente Vizcaino - 1987 Sonhos De Una Noite De Verão / by William Shakespeare, dir. by Werner Herzog - 1992 for Exp Music for expositions of Painters & Sculptors (all in Brazil): Os Muito Universos / by Miralda Pedroso (installation) - 1985 Ita-Parica / (Fragmentos de uma exposiçao) by Miralda Pedroso (installation) - 1985 Figueira Branca / by Akiko Fujita (Sculpture & Installation) - 1986 Os Sete Aneis / by Antonio Peticov (Sculpture) - 1986 Written Music for different assembles: Music for 48 Strings - dedicated to Igor Strawinsky Ritmos & Danças - guitar and Orchestra - dedicated to Léo Brower Dança das Sombras - Chamber Orchestra - 1983 10 Guitar Studies - 1979/1990 10 Strings Quartet - 1987/1990 Songbook - released by Editions Gismonti - 1989/1990 10 Piano Studies - 1989/1990 Musica de Sobrevivência - Symphonic Music commissioned by Sec. Cultura de São Paulo - 1990 Realejo - Chamber Orchestra - 1991 Strawa no Sertão - Chamber Orchestra - 1991 Cabinda, a cantiga dos Espiritos - (5 movements) Symphonic Music commissioned by Zürich Synphonic Orchestra - 1992 Imagem & Variações - Symphonic Music commissioned by São Paulo Symphonic Orchestra - 1992 Strawa no Sertão , Maxixe - Symphonic Music commissioned by Copenhagen Symphonic Orchestra - 1993 Lundú - Symphonic Music commissioned by Copenhagen Symphonic Orchestra - 1993 Forró - Symphonic Music commissioned by Orchestra Symphonic of Bahia - OSBA - 1993 Frevo - Symphonic Music commissioned by Cordoba Symphonic Orchestra 1993 Dança dos Escravos - Symphonic Music commissioned by Cordoba Symphonic Orchestra - 1993 Previous ‘94 Releases & Works: Gismonti & Vasconcelos - Live at ‘87 Montreux Jazz Festival - Warner Bros. CD Gismonti & C. Haden - Live at ‘89 Montreal Jazz Festival - Polygram Classics CD Gismonti & Ars Nova - Gismonti Vocal Music - ECM Records CD Livro das Ignorânças - Music based in Manoel de Barros Poems - ECM Records CD Casa das Andorinhas - Music for ‘92 Brazilian TV Series - Carmo/ECM CD Bandeira do Brasil - Compilation of E. Gismonti works - Carmo/ECM CD Song Book number 2 - Mundiamusic & Ed. Gismonti - Switzerland - songbook Music for Strings Quartet - Mundiamusic & Ed. Gismonti - Swintzerland - music book

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