Os Cariocas

Active since 1942 after two decades of prominence on the esteemed Rádio Nacional and distinguished from contemporaneous vocal ensembles by their sophisticated four- or five-part vocal arrangements, Os Cariocas emerged as the leading bossa nova group following their 1957 version of "Chega de Saudade" (Tom Jobim/Vinícius de Moraes) featuring João Gilberto on guitar. As one of the earliest captures of the now-classic track, its instant popularity in the nascent style prompted the ensemble to adopt the idiom, thereby shaping most vocal groups that followed.

In 1962 Os Cariocas joined Tom Jobim, de Moraes, João Gilberto, and supporting musicians Milton Banana on drums and Octávio Bailly on bass for the O Encontro presentation at the Au Bon Gourmet club. Their set included "Corcovado" (Quiet Nights), "Garota de Ipanema" (Girl From Ipanema), "Samba do Avião" (Plane Samba), "Samba de Uma Nota Só" (One Note Samba), "Só Danço Samba," and additional standards. Frequent participants in major bossa nova showcases, they regularly appeared on Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues’ O Fino da Bossa broadcast on TV Record in São Paulo. Mid-decade engagements took them to New York and Washington, D.C., where they performed at the Carter Barron alongside Astrud Gilberto and Paul Anka; in New York they also guested on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson on NBC. Liner notes for their LP Introducing the Cariocas were supplied by Quincy Jones, who highlighted their distinctive fusion of bossa nova rhythms and melodies with contemporary jazz harmonies.

Their bossa nova period, the second chapter in the group’s history, ran from 1957 until dissolution in 1967, with activity resuming only in 1988. The initial era of acclaim stretched from 1948 to 1955. Brothers Ismael Neto and Severino Filho founded the ensemble in 1942, recruiting Ari Mesquita, Salvador, and Tarqüínio for local school performances. Valdir Prado Viviani (piano/harmonica) replaced Ari Mesquita in 1945, after which the group debuted on Rádio Clube and soon secured an exclusive contract with Rádio Nacional, adopting the Os Cariocas name in 1946. That same year Tarqüínio and Salvador departed, leaving the lineup of Badeco on first voice, Filho on second, Ismael Neto on third voice and vocal arrangements, Quartera on fourth, and Valdir on fifth voice plus solos and whistle.

Their debut commercial release arrived in 1948 as a 78 rpm coupling "Nova Ilusão" (José Menezes/Luís Bittencourt) and "Adeus América" (Haroldo Barbosa/Geraldo Jacques), both immediate successes later included in the 1994 Mestres da MPB series; the latter track was subsequently re-recorded by João Gilberto and remains among his classics. Additional forays encompassed Northeastern cocos and baiões, among them the 1949 hits "Qui Nem Jiló" and "Macapá" with Marlene by Luís Gonzaga and Humberto Teixeira, as well as canções juninas such as "Baile na Roça" by Ismael Neto, "Festa de São João" by Bide and Sebastião Gomes, "Eu Também Sou Batista" by Wilson Batista and José Batista, and "Pula Fogueira" by Haroldo Lobo and Milton DeOliveira. Further successes followed with "Marca na Parede" (Mario Faccini/Ismael Neto) in 1950 and "Tim Tim por Tim Tim" (Haroldo Barbosa/Geraldo Jacques) in 1951. Beginning in 1953 Ismael Neto partnered with Antônio Maria on hits including "Canção da Volta," recorded by Dolores Durán in 1954, and "Valsa de Uma Cidade," later revisited by Os Cariocas themselves. In 1954 the group contributed to Tom Jobim and Billy Blanco’s Sinfonia do Rio de Janeiro, recording "Hino ao Sol" with Dick Farney, "Coisas do Dia" with Lúcio Alves, and "Noites do Rio" with Dóris Monteiro.

Following Ismael Neto’s death in 1956, Filho invited his sister Hortênsia da Silva Araújo to join, resulting in the tribute album Os Cariocas a Ismael Neto; Filho also assumed arranging and directing duties that year. Hortênsia exited in 1962 and, owing to illness, Viviani was replaced by Luís Roberto Gomes, reducing Os Cariocas to a quartet. After disbanding in 1967 the group reconvened in 1988, the same year Luís Roberto succumbed to a heart attack at the Jazzmania club in Rio de Janeiro. With a fluctuating membership thereafter, they issued Minha Namorada in 1990 and received the Sharp Prize. Two years later Reconquistar earned another Sharp Prize. In 1997 they collaborated with Tim Maia on the CD Amigo do Rei, while A Bossa Brasileira received a Sharp Prize nomination.