Hermeto Pascoal – The Monash Sessions

Legendary Brazilian musician, arranger, composer and multi instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal, is a man described by Miles Davis as one of the most important musicians on the planet.

Hermeto Pascoal, a name synonymous with flamboyant and Jazz in his home country of Brazil, is featured here in the first of a ingenious series entitled The Monash Sessions.

As artist in residence at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music (who facilitated the recording of The Monash Sessions), Pascoal recorded his compositions with Australian guitarist and expert in Brazilian music Doug deVries. Alongside Monash University staff; Robert Burke, Jordan Murray, Paul Williamson and Julien Wilson and a cameo appearance from Italian saxophonist Mirko Guirrini plus jazz studies students from the University, the line up is impressive.

Part of the process, Hermeto methodically arranged with Jordan Murray with Doug deVries translating, as the recording evolved and In a spontaneous act, Hermeto, during the opening track, stood up with a glass of water and started singing into the glass. The resulting improvisation demonstrates how the word ‘innovation’ has long been synonymous with Pascoal, whose talent for making music out of virtually anything has earned him such nicknames as the Sorcerer. With just over half an hour of recorded music you feel compelled to savour each moment.

All compositions and arrangements by Hermeto Pascoal.

Horn arrangements by Hermeto Pascoal and Jordan Murray.

Hermeto Pasocal The Monash Sessions, one evocative and fascinating recording, is out now on Jazzhead Recordings.