Raul De Souza

Renowned for his singular, irresistibly warm timbre, Brazilian trombonist Raul de Souza maintained a steady profile throughout the 1970s before slipping from view in the following decade. Though rooted in jazz, the Rio de Janeiro native proved adaptable across fusion, pop-jazz, Brazilian jazz, funk, and disco. Born on August 23, 1934, de Souza served as a valued sideman to leading Brazilian figures of the era, among them Sergio Mendez, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Milton Nascimento. He also contributed to 1970s sessions led by Sonny Rollins and Cal Tjader. In 1976 he joined Capitol Records, issuing his debut for the label, Sweet Lucy, the next year. George Duke oversaw both that project and its successor, Don't Ask My Neighbors. For the 1979 follow-up, 'Til Tomorrow Comes, de Souza enlisted producer Arthur Wright and embraced disco without reservation; the album contains no jazz. After that release his association with Capitol ended, and his visibility declined sharply. The three Capitol titles have long been deleted, yet the 1974 album Colors remains accessible on CD through Fantasy’s Original Jazz Classics reissue program.