Biography
Hailing from Belo Horizonte in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, Som Imaginário coalesced during the 1970s. Alongside songwriters Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges, the ensemble shaped the Clube Da Esquina movement, which stands as Brazil’s most influential musical export since bossa nova and Tropicalia. Founded by Wagner Tiso, Robertinho Silva and additional musicians, the group cultivated a virtually unrestricted style that fluidly combined jazz, classical, progressive and psychedelic rock, MPB and bossa nova. After contributing to Nascimento’s 1970 album Milton, they released a self-titled debut on Odeon. Som Imaginario II, also known as A Nova Estrela, followed in 1971 and featured percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. In 1972 the band’s members individually participated with Nascimento and Lô Borges on the now-iconic double album Clube Da Esquina. Their final studio recording, the nearly uncategorizable Matança do Porco, appeared in 1973. Following a four-decade hiatus, Tiso reconvened the musicians for three performances in Belo Horizonte and thereafter resumed sporadic live appearances. In 2023 London’s Far Out Recordings presented the archival Banda Da Capital: Live in Brasilia 1976.
Som Imaginário was assembled specifically to support Milton Nascimento on his 1970 touring production Milton Nascimento, Ah! E O Som Imaginário at Rio de Janeiro’s Opinião theater. Like the songwriter, its players originated in Minas Gerais and intuitively grasped the inclusive breadth he pursued. The lineup comprised pianist Wagner Tiso, drummer/percussionist Robertinho Silva, guitarist Frederyko, organist/vocalist Zé Rodrix, percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, bassist Luis Alvez and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Tavito. Impressed by their work, Nascimento enlisted them for the Odeon classic Milton. Capitalizing on the resulting attention, Som Imaginário secured their own Odeon contract and delivered their self-titled album late that same year.
Extensive touring ensued, during which they also accompanied Marcos Valle, Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Fafá de Belém, Sueli Costa, Carlinhos Vergueiro and Jards Macalé. Personnel shifts occurred when Vasconcelos replaced Laudir de Oliveira, who relocated to the United States to join Chicago, though Vasconcelos remained only briefly. Guitarist Toninho Horta and saxophonist Nivaldo Ornelas subsequently entered the core roster.
For their second album the musicians composed and recorded the soundtrack to Tiso’s short film A Nova Estrela. Rodrix, Alves and Silva departed, bringing bassist Novelli (Djair de Barros e Silva) and drummer Paulo Braga into the fold.
Nascimento and Lô Borges issued the double album Clube Da Esquina in 1972, foregrounding the stylistic range of Minas Gerais. Tiso and Eumir Deodato crafted the arrangements, Paulo Moura conducted the ensemble and orchestra, and every past and present member of Som Imaginário appeared in varying combinations. The release earned widespread critical and popular acclaim, becoming one of the most influential Brazilian albums of the latter twentieth century.
Som Imaginário’s third album, Matança do Porco (1973), took its title from a Wagner Tiso piece that had served as the theme for Rui Guerra’s 1970 film Os Deuses e os Mortos. The record also spotlighted the singles “Armina” and “Nova Estrela,” both Tiso compositions; he additionally supplied string, reed, woodwind and brass charts for nearly every track, with Arthur Verocai acting as conductor. Subsequent touring proved sporadic owing to competing commitments, yet the group served as Gal Costa’s backing band on the 1973 album India and supported Paulo Diniz on Lugar Comum.
In 1974 a quintet edition—Tiso, Alves, Silva, Horta and Ornelas—backed Nascimento on Milagre Dos Peixes, then documented a Teatro Municipal De São Paulo concert released that year as Milagre Dos Peixes: Ao Vivo, which entered the charts. They likewise accompanied Ivan Lins on Modo Livre and Jards Macalé on Aprender A Nadar.
Although further studio work as a unit never materialized, the musicians continued touring and collaborating with Nascimento and others. Tiso reassembled Ornelas, Silva, Tavito and Alves for three sold-out 2013 performances billed as Wagner Tiso e o Som Imaginário, prompting renewed concert activity. Guitarist Victor Biglione joined as a sixth member in 2016.
England’s Far Out, renowned for excavating rare Brazilian recordings, issued Banda Da Capital: Live in Brasilia 1976 in 2023. The lineup—Tiso, Frederyko, Ornelas, drummer Paulinho Braga and bassist Jamil Joanes (Banda Black Rio)—had performed at a celebration of Brazil’s Nature Day; the soundboard recording was mixed yet shelved, remaining in Tiso’s archive for nearly fifty years until restoration and remastering by Frank Merritt, after which it reached stores in June 2023.
Som Imaginário was assembled specifically to support Milton Nascimento on his 1970 touring production Milton Nascimento, Ah! E O Som Imaginário at Rio de Janeiro’s Opinião theater. Like the songwriter, its players originated in Minas Gerais and intuitively grasped the inclusive breadth he pursued. The lineup comprised pianist Wagner Tiso, drummer/percussionist Robertinho Silva, guitarist Frederyko, organist/vocalist Zé Rodrix, percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, bassist Luis Alvez and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Tavito. Impressed by their work, Nascimento enlisted them for the Odeon classic Milton. Capitalizing on the resulting attention, Som Imaginário secured their own Odeon contract and delivered their self-titled album late that same year.
Extensive touring ensued, during which they also accompanied Marcos Valle, Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Fafá de Belém, Sueli Costa, Carlinhos Vergueiro and Jards Macalé. Personnel shifts occurred when Vasconcelos replaced Laudir de Oliveira, who relocated to the United States to join Chicago, though Vasconcelos remained only briefly. Guitarist Toninho Horta and saxophonist Nivaldo Ornelas subsequently entered the core roster.
For their second album the musicians composed and recorded the soundtrack to Tiso’s short film A Nova Estrela. Rodrix, Alves and Silva departed, bringing bassist Novelli (Djair de Barros e Silva) and drummer Paulo Braga into the fold.
Nascimento and Lô Borges issued the double album Clube Da Esquina in 1972, foregrounding the stylistic range of Minas Gerais. Tiso and Eumir Deodato crafted the arrangements, Paulo Moura conducted the ensemble and orchestra, and every past and present member of Som Imaginário appeared in varying combinations. The release earned widespread critical and popular acclaim, becoming one of the most influential Brazilian albums of the latter twentieth century.
Som Imaginário’s third album, Matança do Porco (1973), took its title from a Wagner Tiso piece that had served as the theme for Rui Guerra’s 1970 film Os Deuses e os Mortos. The record also spotlighted the singles “Armina” and “Nova Estrela,” both Tiso compositions; he additionally supplied string, reed, woodwind and brass charts for nearly every track, with Arthur Verocai acting as conductor. Subsequent touring proved sporadic owing to competing commitments, yet the group served as Gal Costa’s backing band on the 1973 album India and supported Paulo Diniz on Lugar Comum.
In 1974 a quintet edition—Tiso, Alves, Silva, Horta and Ornelas—backed Nascimento on Milagre Dos Peixes, then documented a Teatro Municipal De São Paulo concert released that year as Milagre Dos Peixes: Ao Vivo, which entered the charts. They likewise accompanied Ivan Lins on Modo Livre and Jards Macalé on Aprender A Nadar.
Although further studio work as a unit never materialized, the musicians continued touring and collaborating with Nascimento and others. Tiso reassembled Ornelas, Silva, Tavito and Alves for three sold-out 2013 performances billed as Wagner Tiso e o Som Imaginário, prompting renewed concert activity. Guitarist Victor Biglione joined as a sixth member in 2016.
England’s Far Out, renowned for excavating rare Brazilian recordings, issued Banda Da Capital: Live in Brasilia 1976 in 2023. The lineup—Tiso, Frederyko, Ornelas, drummer Paulinho Braga and bassist Jamil Joanes (Banda Black Rio)—had performed at a celebration of Brazil’s Nature Day; the soundboard recording was mixed yet shelved, remaining in Tiso’s archive for nearly fifty years until restoration and remastering by Frank Merritt, after which it reached stores in June 2023.
Albums
