Amoeba Music

By J Poet

Sergio Mendes helped popularize Brazilian music in the United States in the 60s, but he was not without his detractors. He was either a Brazilian jazz pioneer or a creator of elevator music, depending on whom you ask. The truth is he was a bit of both, a credible jazz pianist with an unerring instinct for pop music. His Best World Music Album Grammy for Brasileiro (1992 Elektra) proved he was a credible musician by blending tough percussion tracks with samba, forro, reggae and jazzy piano, while people who fancy themselves world music aficionados scorn his best selling albums with Brazil ‘66. He continues to tour and record and released the Brazilian hip-hop flavored Encanto (Concord) in 2008.

City Of Origin:

Niterói, Brazil

Genre:

World

Birthdate:

02/11/1941