Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo

1986 video - "Peixinho"

I was today years old when I discovered this live video made in 1986 for TV Cultura in São Paulo, Brazil. Here is Hermeto Pascoal e Grupo, with Hermeto (piano), Carlos Malta (sax), Itiberê Zwarg (bass), Marcio Bahia (drums) and Pernambuco (percussion). I am on flute and we are playing Peixinho, a composition by Hermeto that we had recorded in 1985:

Hermeto’s piano playing is absolutely amazing and so is the way that Itiberê and Marcio respond to his playing. This is freedom within a structure, done in a way that it is impossible to separate the improvisation from the written notes.

Everything we play today is built on the foundation that Hermeto has created.

Viva a Música!

Jovino