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7h ago

Hermeto Pascoal, Brazilian Composer and Musical Innovator, Dies at 89

His family announced his passing on his social media pages, saying he died surrounded by relatives alongside fellow musicians.

Hermeto Pascoal was a virtuoso who excelled in various instruments and had an extraordinary ability to improvise

Overview

  • His death was confirmed Saturday in a message on his Instagram account posted by his family and team.
  • The Instagram note said his group was on stage at the moment of his passing and invited admirers to honor him by letting a single note ring from any source.
  • Known as “The Sorcerer,” he fashioned music from unconventional objects and instruments, including kettles, toys and a piglet featured on his 1977 album Slaves Mass.
  • His international profile was cemented through work with Miles Davis, who recorded three Pascoal compositions on the 1970 album Live-Evil after first sparring with him in a boxing ring.
  • Pascoal resisted the jazz label, rooted his improvisation in Brazilian forms such as chorinho and samba, and continued performing and mentoring into his 80s, including a 2022 London show.