Brazilian Jazz Quartet And The Good Neighbors Jazz

Brazilian Jazz Quartet And The Good Neighbors Jazz

Rare And Obscure Jazz Albums

Coffee And Jazz

In 1957, inspired by Dave Brubeck's quartet, pianist Moacyr Peixo (1921-2003), considered one of the pioneers of Brazilian jazz, founded the "Brazilian Jazz Quartet" alongside three talented musicians: José Ferreira Godinho Filho, known as "Casé", on alto saxophone; and a delightfully laid-back rhythm team, Luiz Chaves on double bass, and Rubinho on drums. The quartet gained popularity at Club 34 in Rio de Janeiro, catching the attention of Columbia label producer Roberto Corte Real. This led to the recording on February 11, 1958, of the remarkable album Coffee and Jazz. During this date, the quartet skillfully interpreted a dozen well-known American standards, infusing their musical expression with influences from the "cool" and "west coast" jazz styles. This album not only serves as a showcase for Casé's melodic, swinging, and eloquent style, reminiscent of Paul Desmond, but it also stands as a warm and wonderful testament to Moacyr's approach to the piano, radiating melodic and swinging imagination with a pulsating, fluid, and deft touch.

*Jordi Pujol*

The Good Neighbors Jazz

In September 1958, pianist Moacyr Peixoto and altoist José Ferreira "Casé" traveled to São Paulo while Woody Herman's big band was performing in the city as part of their extensive South American tour that summer. Following the show, the band's bassist Major Holley and drummer Jimmy Campbell joined Moacyr and Casé for a successful gathering at the Michel nightclub. The subsequent day, producer Roberto Corte Real orchestrated a recording session with the quartet, conducted from 22 hours on September 21 until 1 in the morning on September 22 at the Columbia studio on Avenida Liberdade in São Paulo. They recorded seven tracks without written arrangements, including "Rough Ridin'", "Easy to Love", a blues by Holley, another by Peixoto, and "Copacabana" by Alberto Ribeiro and Braguinha. As a result of this improvised session, the album titled The Good Neighbors Jazz was released and acclaimed. Sixty-five years after its recording, this album stands as a testament to the thriving relationship between young Brazilian musicians and modern American jazz players in the late 1950s and early 1960s. *Jordi Pujol*

There was such a surfeit of great sax players in the 1950s that it’s understandable that many got overlooked. Here’s a chance to see what you’ve been missing with this rich reissue from Fresh Sound Records.

Brazilian alto saxist Jose Ferreira "Case" comes from the Art Pepper school of blowing on these two albums recorded in 1958 in either Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. The quartet with Moacyr Reixoto/p, Luiz Chaves/b and Rubens Barsotti/dr is a bopper, with Peixoto in a Bud Powell mood for the upbeat read of Duke Ellington’s obscure "Cop-Out" and a fervent "Don’t Get Around Much Anymore". The team drives like stallions on "The Lonesome Road" and Barsotti rides the cymbals like a bull whip on "Old Devil Moon". Peixoto is kept but now with Major Holley/b and Jimmy Campbell/dr for a swaying "Major Blues" and a deep groove of "Out Of Nowhere". Ferreira sways on "Rough Ridin'" and bops till he drops on "Peixoto’s Blues". Any more of this around? *George W. Harris*

1 - The Lonesome Road

(Shilkret, Austin)

2 - When Your Lover Has Gone

(E. A. Swan)

3 - Cop-Out

(Duke Ellington)

4 - Black Satin

(George Shearing)

5 - Makin' Whoopee

(Donaldson, Kahn)

6 - No Moon At All

(Mann, Evans)

7 - Old Devil Moon

(Lane, Harburg)

8 - Don't Get Around Much Anymore

(Ellington, Russell)

9 - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home

(Cole Porter)

10 - I'll Close My Eyes

(Reid, Kaye)

11 - Alone

(Steinberg, Kelly)

12 - Too Marvelous For Words

(Whiting, Mercer)

13 - Rough Ridin'

(Jones, Fitzgerald)

14 - Easy To Love

(Cole Porter)

15 - Out Of Nowhere

(Green, Heyman)

16 - Major Blues

(Major Holley)

17 - Yesterdays

(Kern, Harbach)

18 - Copacabana

(Ribeiro, De Barro)

19 - Peixoto's Blues

(Moacyr Peixoto)

#1 to #12: from the Brazilian Jazz Quartet album Coffee and Jazz (Columbia LPCB 37005)

José Ferreira "Casé" (alto sax), Moacyr Peixoto (piano),

Luiz Chaves (bass), Rubens Barsotti "Rubinho" (drums).

Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, February 11, 1958.

#13 to #19: from the album The Good Neighbors Jazz (Columbia LPCB 37037)

José Ferreira "Casé" (alto sax), Moacyr Peixoto (piano),

Major Holley (bass), Jimmy Campbell (drums).

Recorded in São Paulo, September 25 and 26, 1958.