PRESS RELEASES
Arthur Verocai Tour Announcement
Brazilian Composer Arthur Verocai Announces His First Ever US Tour With Accompaniment From a
30-Piece-Orchestra
He Will Be Performing His 1972 Debut, Self-Titled Album In Its Entirety With Special Guests
Presented by ArtDontSleep
In August 2023, ArtDontSleep presents Jazz Está Morto celebrates the genius of Arthur Verocai with a 30-piece-orchestra and Special Guests bringing to life his
self-titled, 1972, debut album on Verocai’s first ever US Tour.
2023 Tour Dates
8/6 The Mayan Los Angeles, CA // SOLD OUT
8/7 ***Show Added*** The Mayan Los Angeles, CA // 7PM
8/11 Lincoln Center’s Summer For The City NYC, NY // 7PM, Free
8/15 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL // 8PM
8/19 UC Theatre Berkeley, CA // 8PM
The 1972 Debut Album:
In 1972, producer, arranger and guitar player Arthur Verocai released a self-titled album on Brazilian based Continental Records that challenged the musical conventions of the day. A complete album masterpiece in every sense of the word, considered by many people to be one of the greatest ever made, regardless of genre. Recorded in Rio De Janeiro, the album was produced, arranged and directed by the self-taught, Arthur Verocai. Previously he had worked on many records in various capacities, with artists including Jorge Ben, Elis Regina, Erasmo Carlos, Ivan Lins, Gal Costa and Célia, but this album gave him the chance to do his own thing in its most pure form. The 29 minute masterpiece, perfect in it’s arrangement and fusion of sonics, epitomizes the sound of Brazil at the time; strings, guitars, pianos, break beats, bass lines, synthesizers vocals from the wonderful Célia, Carlos Dafe and Oberdan (Banda Black Rio), plus percussion from Pedro Santos and Paulo Moura on sax. Bossa nova, samba, jazz, MPB, psychedelics and funk sit side by side effortlessly. The album transcends the genre of Brazilian music, and in fact all genres. Highlighted in part by the number of artists that have sampled from it; MF Doom, Ludacris & Common, Little Brother, Action Bronson amongst others. The original Continental version of the album now fetch around $10,000. “I could listen to the album everyday for the rest of my life” – Madlib.
Listen to the album in Full Here: https://spotify.link/BApKzqoI1yb
Arthur Verocai Biography:
Brazilian folk-jazz composer and arranger Arthur Verocai was born in Rio de Janeiro on June 17, 1945. The product of a classical music education, he first earned widespread attention in 1966 when Leny Andrade recorded his song “Olhando o Mar” for her LP We Are There. Embracing the contemporary pop, soul, and jazz sounds emerging from both sides of the equator, Verocai gradually honed a sweeping orchestral psych-funk sensibility not far removed from American producers like David Axelrod and Charles Stepney. Despite collaborations with artists including Paulinho Tapajós, Elis Regina, and Creuza Maria, he nevertheless was forced to maintain a civil engineering position until 1969, when he scored the theatrical production Is the Greater and arranged sessions for Gal Costa, Marcos Valle, Quarteto Em Cy, Erasmo Carlos, Jorge Ben and others. After producing a pair of LPs for singer Célia as well as Ivan Lins’ 1971 effort Agora — as well as scoring a series of Brazilian television series — Verocai contracted with the Continental label to record a self-titled solo LP, a stunningly innovative effort that effectively bridges the divide between the Tropicalia of the late ’60s and the deep-groove funk of the decade to follow. Released in 1972, a period marked by the Brazilian military government’s opposition to creative expression, the album fared poorly and Verocai turned to advertising, writing and producing music for clients from all walks of industry. Shockingly considering its brilliance, upon release the album came and went with little fanfare, causing Verocai to essentially give up and pivot his career to advertising. Decades later, the album has become a cult classic throughout the US and Europe. “A true master conductor. Just as incredible live as recorded” – MF DOOM
Arthur Verocai’s latest musical adventures connect the dots between his legacy and all of the artists he has influenced over the years as seen on his latest collaboration with the Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote on their 2021 album ‘Mood Valiant’, a few songs arrangements for the Canadian group BadBadNotGood and his stunning arrangement for Tyler the Creator’s score for Virgil Abloh’s posthumous show at Paris fashion week for Louis Vuitton. But that’s only to name a few.
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