Any good jazz musician spends a great deal of time working as a sideman....

Any good jazz musician spends a great deal of time working as a sideman, but the best musicians show up consistently in high profile positions. Their insightful musicianship leaps out of any setting, making them a magnet for audience and peer attention. As a result, they regularly have a full schedule as one gig leads to another opportunity, opening into yet more performances. Once word spreads, they generally attract major attention, leading to gigs with the best musicians in their field and beyond. As their profile rises, they become important pieces of the scene, and eventually, they make the step into the role of bandleader.

Brazilian pianist Helio Alves has served as a high profile sideman with some important names in the jazz and Latin Jazz world, a reflection of his finely tuned skills currently on display in his own project. Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Alves found musical inspiration in his parents, who both maintained their skills as amateur pianists. Classical music was a priority in the Alves household, with a bit of jazz thrown into the mix, giving young Helio a strong foundation.

He dove into classical lessons at 6 years old, getting a strict training until a concert from pianist Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton turned his attention towards jazz. During his high school years, Alves received encouragement and lessons from jazz bassist Xu Viana, who suggested that the young pianist continue his jazz studies at the Berklee College Of Music.

Alves moved to Boston after high school, taking Berklee by storm with continually impressive showings of musicianship. While at Berklee, Alves connected with trumpet player Claudio Roditi, and after moving to New York upon graduation, Alves found a spot in Roditi’s band at the piano chair. While working steadily with Roditi, Alves also found a prime gig in saxophonist Joe Henderson’s Double Rainbow Quartet, recording with the jazz legend on his album Big Band.

Alves became a first call pianist on New York’s Brazilian Jazz scene, working with harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens on In A Sentimental Mood, drummer Duduka da Fonseca on Samba Jazz Fantasia, saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera on Brazilian Dreams, among many others. As the pianist’s schedule began to fill with calls from across the scene, he also began a career as a bandleader on the 1998 album Trios. An inspired collection of straight-ahead jazz and Brazilian Jazz, Alves recorded with two trios including bassist John Patitucci and drummer Al Foster as well as bassist Nilson Matta and da Fonseca. Alves followed this release in 2004 with Portrait in Black and White, another strong trio release that teamed the pianist with bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Matt Wilson.

In 2009, Alves kicked things up a notch with It’s Clear, a quartet recording that employed guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Ernesto Simpson. Along the way, the pianist took high profile jobs with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Obrigado Brazil and co-lead the album Forests with Matta and da Fonseca. His 2010 release Música teams the pianist with bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Antonio Sanchez, a trio complimented in two spots by Roditi and Lubambo. It’s another step for Alves in the transition from high profile sideman to high profile bandleader, as he once again showcases impeccable musicianship throughout the recording.

Complete on  >>  http://www.chipboaz.com/blog/2010/11/23/weekly-latin-jazz-video-fix-helio-alves/



Claudio Roditi trompete e flugelhorn, com o pianista Hélio Alves, o baixista Leonardo Cioglia, eo baterista Dudura da Fonseca