Antonio Adolfo is an important composer, having written songs recorded by Nara Leao, Marisa Gata Mansa, Angela Ro Ro, Wilson Simonal, Ivete Sangalo, Leci Brandao, Emilio Santiago, Beth Carvalho, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, Stevie Wonder and Herb Alpert among others. Adolfo also had a noted role in the process of making important music available through independent production, through the creation of the pioneer independent label Artezanal.
Photo: Antonio Adolfo & Carol Saboya
His recordings of important and almost-forgotten composers of the belle epoque, like Chiquinha Gonzaga, Ernesto Nazareth and Joao Pernambuco, are noted cultural initiatives. As an arranger, he worked for Leci Brandao, Angela Ro Ro, Elizeth Cardoso, Emilio Santiago, Fatima Guedes, Marcos Valle, Mongol, Nara Leao, O Grupo, Ruy Maurity (his brother), Sueli Costa, Vinicius Cantuaria, Rita Lee, Zeze Motta, and others. The son of Yolanda Maurity, a music teacher and violinist of the orchestra of the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Adolfo began to study music very early.
At seven, he began his violin studies with Paulina D'Ambrozzio. At 15, he took up piano, studying with Amyrton Vallim. In 1963, he joined the group Samba Cinco, which performed in the famous Beco das Garrafas on Rio's 52nd street. In 1964 Adolfo was invited by Carlos Lyra and Vinicius de Moraes to be a musician for their play Pobre Menina Rica (at Teatro de Bolso), beginning to accompany important names of MPB. Adolfo formed the group 3-D for that gig, and continued to perform with it until 1968, having recorded four LPs.
The song was defended by Adolfo's group A Brazuca, and took second place. With that group he toured Brazil and Peru, recording two albums through Odeon. In 1970, "Teletema" (with Tiberio) took second place in an International Festival (Song Olympiad) in Athens, Greece, in Evinha's interpretation, which achieved popular success also in Brazil. "BR-3" won the national phase of the V FIC, in Toni Tornado's interpretation. In 1971 Adolfo moved to the U.S.. In 1972 he returned to Brazil, beginning to write alone, and recording Antonio Adolfo (Philips).
Photo: Antonio Adolfo and Carlos Lyra.
In that year he studied with David Baker at Indiana University. Adolfo was a member of the band that backed Elis Regina in two European tours, finding time in between for a stint with the classical Nadia Boulanger, having studied also with Guerra Peixe and Esther Scliar. Back in Brazil, he developed his career as pianist, arranger, and producer. But even more deserving of attention is his work as a pioneer in the independent production field, which awakened artists and public to the necessity of opening alternative routes to non-commercial productions.
In 1977 he launched his independent label Artezanal with the album Feito em Casa, with only originals. Encontro Musical, released in the same year, brought again originals and only one song, "Sa Marina," written together with Tiberio. The album had the participation of Joyce and Erasmo Carlos. Viralata (1979) had mainly originals, and Continuidade had special guests. The albums were propelled by shows throughout Brazil, together with artists like Tiao Neto, Vitor Assis Brasil, Carmelia Alves, Oswaldinho do Acordeom, Alaide Costa, Sidney Miller, Walter Queiroz, and Danilo Caymmi, among others.
In 1984 Adolfo released through the label Funarte a tribute album dedicated to the compositions of Joao Pernambuco, with participation of No em Pingo D'agua. In 1985 he paid tribute to Chiquinha Gonzaga, a seminal Brazilian female conductor, pianist, and composer, interpreting her songs in Viva Chiquinha Gonzaga, with participation of Nilson Chaves and Vital Lima. The album Os Pianeiros is dedicated to belle epoque piano composers. In the same year he participated in the first Carioca experience of teaching popular music/jazz in the Centro Calouste Gulbenkian, together with Pascoal Meirelles, Helio Delmiro, Ary Piassarollo, Paulo Russo, and others.
Photo: AA and Oscar Castro-Neves (during Tribute to Jobim)
In 1996 he received the Premio Sharp award for his instrumental composition "Cristalina," from his album Cristalino (1993). In 1997 released Chiquinha com Jazz (Artezanal), which also was awarded the Premio Sharp, and so was the album Antonio Adolfo. Since then Adolfo released the CDs Puro Improviso, Viralata, Feito em Casa, Os Pianeiros, Carnaval Piano Blues and Antonio Adolfo & Carol Saboya Ao vivo/Live, this one was released both in Brasil and in the US, andf the brand new Antonio Adolfo and Carol Saboya La e Ca/Here and There.
Works
Antonio Adolfo has been playing different musical styles with several contexts:
- Piano solo
- Duo (several possibilities)
- Trio (piano, bass and drums)
- Quartet (trio and horns)
- Quintet (trio and two horns)
- Octet - trio, guitar, percussion and three horns)
Recordings:
Antonio Adolfo can play as instrumentist (piano, keyboards and violin), arranger, artistic producer and recording producer)
Soundtrack composer:
Besides his work as composer with more than 400 compositions recorded, AA has worked as the composer of soundtracks for movies and TV
Contact.
Centro Musical Antonio Adolfo
Phone: (5521) 2274-8004/2294-3079
Phone/Fax (5521) 2239-2975
Educator:
In 1985, Antonio Adolfo has made a decision in creating Centro Musical Antonio Adolfo to teach in a modern Brazilian way what people need to become a musician. Nowadays, a big amount of musicians, students and enthusiasts come to his Centro Musical located two blocks from the famous Ipanema beach to learn music.
Antonio Adolfo has a vast experience as an educator since 1975 and has released seven books in Brasil and two books (including CD and/or video) for the International market. As an specialist in Brazilian music, Adolfo has been travelling around the globe teaching what can be considered one of the most sophisticated types of music.
Antonio Adolfo is also member of IAJE (International Association For Jazz Education) and IASJ (International Association Of Schools Of Jazz). Recently, Antonio Adolfo created an experimental school of Brazilian music in Hollywood, Florida: www.antonioadolfo.net
