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Laurindo Almeida

Laurindo Almeida was born on September 2, 1917, Sao Paulo, Brazil, A fluent and skilled musician, famous in his native country as a classical Spanish guitar player, Almeida came to the USA in the 40s to work in film and television studios(he composed music for over 800 movies & TV series and recorded numerous LPs and CDs). His jazz work was first widely exposed during a spell with Stan Kenton in the late 40s. Although continuing his film and television work, Almeida also took many opportunities to play jazz, joining forces with bassist Harry Babasin, altoist Bud Shank and drummer Roy Harte in 1953. The work of this group anticipated many of the hallmarks of the bossa nova craze which came a few years later. In 1974 Almeida gained further appreciation when he was teamed with bassist Ray Brown, drummer Chuck Flores and Shank to form the La Four. Records by this group, with Flores replaced successively by Shelly Manne and Jeff Hamilton, and later teamings with Shank in duo performances and with fellow guitarists Larry Coryell and Charlie Byrd, show Almeida to have lost none of the distinctive style that sets his work apart from the mainstream of jazz guitar. His career has been celebrated by winning among others grammy awards in 1959 for his performance on Danzas, in 1960 for The Spanish Guitars Of Laurindo Almeida and Conversations With The Guitar. The following year he gained two more with Discantos and Reverie For Spanish Guitars and in 1962 further honours with nominations with Viva Bossa Nova! in the Best Performance By An Orchestra For Dancing and Best Jazz Performance categories and a third nomination with The Intimate Bach (Best Classical performance). In 1964 the album Guitar From Ipanema won the grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, in 1972 he was nominated for the Best Soloist award with The Art Of Laurindo Almeida. He died July 26th 1995 in Van Nuys, California, USA.


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Unsung Heroes

Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd, and Ralph Towner

Read "Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd, and Ralph Towner" reviewed by Sean Dietrich


The concert guitar is hailed by many as the perfect instrument. After being perfected in the Baroque age, virtuosos believed the wooden torso to posses the variety of an orchestra. The concert guitar produces a wide range of tone, timber, color, and dynamic expression unlike any other stringed instrument, capable of projecting a delicate voice of pure emotion. As music enters the age of electrified sound, fewer players seem to have the audacity to unplug. But amongst a ...

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Music Industry

The Modern Jazz Quartet/Laurindo Almeida's Collaboration Reissued On Label M

The Modern Jazz Quartet/Laurindo Almeida's Collaboration Reissued On Label M

Source: All About Jazz

In 1963, Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida joined the Modern Jazz Quartet for a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival, sparking a brief, but bountiful relationship. The results would include a European concert tour the following year (1964) and the brilliant Atlantic Records date Collaboration, now being reissued for the first time on CD by Label M.

During this period in The Modern Jazz Quartets history, the group consisting of John Lewis on piano, Milt Jackson on vibes, Percy Heath on ...

Matt Jardim
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Bossa Nova Guitar...

Verve Records
2009

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Brazilliance /...

Capitol Records
2006

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Brazil & Beyond

Capitol Records
2003

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Brasil Guitar Magic

Capitol Records
1999

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Chamber Jazz

Capitol Records
1993

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Baa-Too-Kee

Capitol Records
1992

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