Nene

One of Brazil’s most influential drummers and percussionists, Nene has taken part in an unusually wide array of musical undertakings. Besides directing his own ensemble he has worked alongside jazz artists from many countries. Between 1978 and 1980 he belonged to Hermeto Pascoal’s group, and in 1980 he joined Egberto Gismonti’s band; over the years he has also appeared or recorded with Milton Nascimento, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Elis Regina, Edu Lobo, Claude Nougaro, Charlie Haden, Bob Moses, Steve Lacy, and Richard Galiano. His 1988 volume Brazilian Rhythms, issued by Zurfluh Editions in Paris, continues to serve as the standard reference on the topic.

Born in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, Nene displayed musical promise early. Although he first took up the accordion at age twelve, he soon shifted his focus to drums. By the time he turned fifteen he had already begun performing professionally. Four years later he secured a position in Pascoal’s band. After further study with Gismonti he started his own group in 1980 and issued his first recording, Bugre, in 1982.

He moved to France for a time in 1983 and quickly became sought after for studio work. While appearing with Claude Nougaro he assembled the Nene Band, which included three Brazilians and two Danes. Throughout the following decade he maintained residences in both France and Brazil yet rarely stayed long in either country. In 1985 he toured with a supergroup that united Gismonti, Kenny Wheeler, and Bob Moses. Although he went back to Brazil in 1986 to perform and record with Pau Brazil, he returned to France the next year and assumed the post of resident composer for the Danish National Jazz Orchestra. A 1989 tour alongside Gismonti, Charlie Haden, and Michel Portal preceded a journey to Japan with Takashi Kako, appearances with the Steve Lacy Group, and another Brazilian trek with Pau Brazil in 1990. Nene’s compositional abilities were showcased in the full-scale production Opera Dos Quinhentos Anos, set to a libretto by Naum Alves de Souza and staged at the Teatro Municiple in Sao Paulo in 1992. He periodically resumed his association with Pascoal, joining him and Arismar Do Espirito Santo for forty-five concerts across Europe in 1993 and, the following year, traveling through Europe with Pascoal and accordionist Richard Galliano. In educational settings he has presented his expertise at the Festival de Musica de Campos de Jordao and the 27th Festival de Inverno de Ouro Preto; in 1997 he took part in a second seminar on Brazilian rhythms held in Belo Horizonte.