The accomplished guitarist Maurício Carrilho once said the following about João Pernambuco and his music: "Very seldom do we find a Brazilian guitarist, be that musician erudite or popular, who has not included in his/her repertoire a composition by João." Side by side with Heitor Villa-Lobos, Pernambuco's music has become "the most legitimate expression of the Brazilian way of playing the acoustic guitar," added Carrilho. It is with the music of João Pernambuco that Nó em Pingo D'Água debuts in the musical scene in Brazil.

João Teixeira Guimarães was born in Jatobá, Pernambuco, in 1883. After his mother passed away in 1904, he moved to Rio de Janeiro. Although he was not much of a talker, he used to tell stories about his home state, and that made him be known as João Pernambuco. Though he was illiterate, Pernambuco had vast experience in popular culture, which reflected very strongly on his artistic side. His musical knowledge soon led him to meet some of the best musicians in his era. He was a contemporary of Catulo da Paixão Cearense, Pixinguinha and others. It was Pernambuco's idea to form the Grupo Caxangá in 1912. The group had a series of Carnaval hits in the years 1914 through 1919. When Pixinguinha created Os Oito Batutas ensemble, he invited almost all of the members of Grupo do Caxangá, and that led to ending Pernambuco's group. Some of the best known classics written by João Pernambuco include "Interrogando," "Azulão," "Luar do Sertão" (with Catulo da Paixão Cearense), "Brasileirinho," "Sons de Carrilhões" and many others. Pernambuco passed away in Rio de Janeiro, 1947.

João Pernambuco -- the album -- unites Nó em Pingo D'Água with pianist, composer and arranger Antonio Adolfo (Rio de Janeiro, 1947). In the two years prior to this release, Adolfo had recorded two albums dedicated to two Brazilian composers, namely Ernesto Nazareth (Os Pianeiros - Antonio Adolfo Abraça Ernesto Nazareth, 1981) and Chiquinha Gonzaga (Viva Chiquinha Gonzaga, 1982). So, it was only natural to invite him to perform the music of another great Brazilian master. In addition to Adolfo, other musicians who guest star in this release are Maurício Carrilho (acoustic guitar), Mauro Senise (soprano sax) and Norato (trombone). For this release, Nó em Pingo D'Água was Mário Sève (flute), Pedro Amorim (mandolin), Jorge Eduardo (7-string acoustic guitar), Rogério Silva (6-string acoustic guitar), Wanderson de Paulo (cavaquinho) and Márcio Gomes (pandeiro).

You can hear samples of tracks in João Pernambuco at this page.

E.L.