PICTURES

FESTIVAL DI TORRECHIARA 2003

The inimitable Samba-Soul of the legendary Trio Mocotó is back. The three original members, Fritz Escovão, Nereu Gargalo and João Parahyba, considered the fathers of Samba Soul Beat, worked together at the Jogral Nightclub in São Paolo for several years before forming this exceptional group in 1968. The Jogral was one of the most important nightclubs in Brasil, regularly hosting world class stars: the Trio had the opportunity of playing with artists of the calibre of Duke Ellington, Earl Hines and Oscar Peterson. The Mocotó (in Brazil the word refers to a woman’s thighs: “a woman is everything beautiful about the world” says Nereu, nicknamed “Brasil’s answer to Louis Armstrong”) rose to fame in 1969 when Jorge Ben invited them to share an international tour and a recording studio. This association produced the albums Jorge Ben 1969 and Força Bruta, genuine milestones of the new Samba (just remember that the first version of the hit Pais Tropical emerged from these recordings. They then recorded Que Maravilha with Ben and Toquinho. This was followed by a triumphant concert tour throughout Brazil and in Mexico with Toquinho, Vinícus de Moraes and Marília Medalha. During an Italian tour with Jorge Ben, the Mocotó played at the Sistina Theatre in Rome together with Egberto Gismonti and the French singer Marie Laforêt. After the show they were contacted by a fellow Brazilian living in Italy to escape the censure of the military dictatorship: it was Chico Buarque who was so impressed by their sound and energy that he invited them to play on the recording he was currently making, Construção.

In the 70s, after various successful singles (Coqueiro Verde among them), the Trio recorded three albums on their own which are much sought after collector’s items today. On “Planet Mocotó” everything was allowed: joy, liberty and an overwhelming sense of a musical adventure with no limits or pre-conceived ideas were the order of the day. The music of the Mocotó Trio, now as it was then, is representative of an entire movement which set out to revive Samba, making it more energetic and electrifying (not simply electrified).

In 2000, after a break of 20 years during which the three singers explored their own paths, Fritz, Nereu and Joãozinho decide to reunite: a new recording and tour lead to a new triumph. It’s immediately obvious that the Mocotó Trio is on top form, the enthusiasm, their joie de vivre and love of singing, the desire to have fun in style are as alive and fresh as they were from the start.

In 2002 the group performed over 50 live concerts through Europe, Asia and Australia including dates such as the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, Womad and many more.

In 2003 the Trio returns with a new member – acclaimed artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist SKOWA. Skowa replaces Fritz Escovão who retired opening a space for someone to represent the Brazilian Soul Music as well as he did. In February 2003, the re-energized Trio went back to Dub Studios in São Paulo to record their fifth album.

The repertoire they offer live includes the group’s original compositions and songs by their friends, the major Brazilian songwriters from Roberto and Erasmus Carlos to Toquinho, from Vinícius de Moraes to Ary Barroso, from Jorge Ben to Tim Maia. All of it revised and seasoned with the instoppable imagination of the Mocotó Trio.

Translation by Sarah J Hyde - www.thelanguage.biz

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