Sergio Mendes

Sergio Mendes – Photo by Mizo

MARCH 11, 2018
by ANGEL ROMERO

Sergio Santos Mendes was born in Niteroi, Brazil, February 11th, 1941. His father was a medical doctor. Mendes attended the local conservatory with hopes of becoming a classical pianist. As his interest in jazz grew, he started playing in nightclubs in the late-1950s just as bossa nova, a jazz-inflected derivative of samba, was taking off. Mendes played with Antonio Carlos Jobim (regarded as a mentor), and many U.S. jazz musicians who toured Brazil.

Mendes formed the Sexteto Bossa Rio and recorded Dance Moderno in 1961. Touring Europe and the United States, Mendes recorded albums with Cannonball Adderly and Herbie Mann and played Carnegie Hall. Mendes moved to the United States in 1964 and recorded two albums under the Brasil ’65 group name with Capitol Records and Atlantic Records.

When sales were slow, he replaced his Brazilian born vocalist Wanda da Sah with the unique voice of Chicago native Lani Hall (who learned Mendes’ Portuguese material phonetically).


In 1966, Sergio Mendes and his group were signed to a record deal by Herb Alpert, whose enthusiastic response led to immediate success. Mixing Brazilian, jazz and American popular styles, Brasil ’66 became known for its fresh, innovative sound. While Mendes was the lively pianist, arranger, producer and musical director, it was American vocalist Lani Hall (who would later marry Herb Alpert) who gave the group the special touch that ensured their success on the pop music charts. Lani is equally comfortable singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese, although you’d never know it from the way she performs all of her songs with the ease of a native.

read more at: https://worldmusiccentral.org/2018/03/11/artist-profiles-sergio-mendes/