Biography
Nene ranks among Brazil’s most influential drummers and percussionists, taking part in an array of musical ventures. In addition to fronting his own ensemble, he has worked alongside jazz players drawn from many countries. He belonged to Hermeto Pascoal’s group between 1978 and 1980 and joined Egberto Gismonti’s band for the year 1980, while his performances and recordings also include Milton Nascimento, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Elis Regina, Edu Lobo, Claude Nougaro, Charlie Haden, Bob Moses, Steve Lacy, and Richard Galiano. The volume Brazilian Rhythms, issued by Zurfluh Editions in Paris in 1988, still stands as the definitive reference on its subject.
A native of Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, Nene revealed musical ability early on. Although he began with the accordion at age twelve, he soon concentrated on drums instead. By his fifteenth birthday he had already started his professional career, and four years later he secured a place in Pascoal’s band. After further experience with Gismonti, Nene assembled his own group in 1980 and issued the debut album Bugre two years afterward.
He moved temporarily to France in 1983 and quickly became sought after for studio work. In addition to appearances with Claude Naugaro, he formed the Nene Band, which consisted of three Brazilians and two Danes. Over the following decade he maintained residences in both France and Brazil, yet seldom remained long in either country, as shown by the 1985 tour with the superband featuring Gismonti, Kenny Wheeler, and Bob Moses. Although he returned to Brazil in 1986 to perform and record with Pau Brazil, he went back to France the next year and served as resident composer for the Danish National Jazz Orchestra. A 1989 tour with Gismonti, Charlie Haden, and Michel Portal preceded a Japanese outing with Takashi Kako, engagements with the Steve Lacy Group, and a further Brazilian tour with Pau Brazil in 1990. His abilities as a composer appeared in the full-length production Opera Dos Quinhentos Anos, which presented a libretto by Naum Alves de Souza at the Teatro Municiple in Sao Paulo in 1992. He periodically resumed his association with Pascoal, including forty-five European concerts in 1993 performed by a trio that also contained Arismar Do Espirito Santo. The following year he toured Europe once more with Pascoal and accordion player Richard Galliano. As a teacher and guest lecturer he has presented his knowledge at the Festival de Musica de Campos de Jordao and the 27th Festival de Inverno de Ouro Preto. In 1997 he appeared during a second seminar of Brazilian rhythms held in Belo Horizonte.
A native of Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, Nene revealed musical ability early on. Although he began with the accordion at age twelve, he soon concentrated on drums instead. By his fifteenth birthday he had already started his professional career, and four years later he secured a place in Pascoal’s band. After further experience with Gismonti, Nene assembled his own group in 1980 and issued the debut album Bugre two years afterward.
He moved temporarily to France in 1983 and quickly became sought after for studio work. In addition to appearances with Claude Naugaro, he formed the Nene Band, which consisted of three Brazilians and two Danes. Over the following decade he maintained residences in both France and Brazil, yet seldom remained long in either country, as shown by the 1985 tour with the superband featuring Gismonti, Kenny Wheeler, and Bob Moses. Although he returned to Brazil in 1986 to perform and record with Pau Brazil, he went back to France the next year and served as resident composer for the Danish National Jazz Orchestra. A 1989 tour with Gismonti, Charlie Haden, and Michel Portal preceded a Japanese outing with Takashi Kako, engagements with the Steve Lacy Group, and a further Brazilian tour with Pau Brazil in 1990. His abilities as a composer appeared in the full-length production Opera Dos Quinhentos Anos, which presented a libretto by Naum Alves de Souza at the Teatro Municiple in Sao Paulo in 1992. He periodically resumed his association with Pascoal, including forty-five European concerts in 1993 performed by a trio that also contained Arismar Do Espirito Santo. The following year he toured Europe once more with Pascoal and accordion player Richard Galliano. As a teacher and guest lecturer he has presented his knowledge at the Festival de Musica de Campos de Jordao and the 27th Festival de Inverno de Ouro Preto. In 1997 he appeared during a second seminar of Brazilian rhythms held in Belo Horizonte.
Albums
